Northern lights may be visible in parts of the US due to solar storms

Northern Lights Could Illuminate U.S. Skies Amid Solar Storms

Solar activity may soon treat parts of the northern United States to a rare celestial display. Space weather specialists report that a strong geomagnetic storm, caused by a powerful coronal mass ejection from the sun, is currently heading toward Earth.

Forecast and Timing

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) expects the geomagnetic storm to reach Earth between Thursday evening and Friday morning. The visibility and brightness of the auroras will depend on the storm’s arrival time and its interaction with Earth's magnetic field.

“It’s quite likely auroras will spin up overnight,” said Shawn Dahl, a space weather forecaster with NOAA.

Viewing Prospects and Safety

If local forecasts include aurora activity, residents can use NOAA’s tracking tools to determine where and when the northern lights are most likely to appear. Despite the storm’s intensity, forecasters do not expect major disruptions to radio or communication systems, according to Dahl.

Visual Spectacle Over the Great Lakes

Similar displays have previously illuminated skies above Lake Michigan, creating vibrant scenes of green and purple hues dancing across the horizon.

Author’s summary: A strong solar storm could make northern lights visible across parts of the U.S., with peak activity expected overnight from Thursday into Friday.

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Associated Press News Associated Press News — 2025-11-06

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