Northern Lights Could Appear in Parts of the Northern US Due to Solar Storms
Space forecasters warn that solar storms may produce colorful auroras across several northern states in the US. The sun recently emitted a massive burst of energy known as a coronal mass ejection, which is currently heading toward Earth.
This event has prompted space weather experts to issue a strong geomagnetic storm watch, with the solar storm expected to arrive between Thursday evening and Friday morning.
Potential Visibility and Timing
The brightness and southern reach of the auroras depend on the timing of the solar burst's arrival and its interaction with Earth's magnetic field.
“If the timing is right, it’s possible auroras will quite likely spin up overnight,” said Shawn Dahl, a space weather forecaster with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Monitoring and Impact
Officials are closely watching the situation but do not expect significant disruptions to radio or communications signals at this time, according to Dahl.
Additional Resources
- Noaa provides a tracking tool to help determine when and where the northern lights may be visible.
- An image shows an aurora borealis over Lake Michigan.
“The sun burped out a huge burst of energy called a coronal mass ejection that’s currently on its way to Earth.” – The Associated Press
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press.
Author’s summary: Solar storms are expected to bring bright northern lights to parts of the US, with timing critical for visibility but minimal impact on communications.