“Strong” geomagnetic storm could produce northern lights further south than usual

Charged particles hitting Earth are expected to create strong solar storms early Monday morning, triggering a geomagnetic storm warning as the Northern Lights may be visible further south than usual.

NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) in Boulder, Colorado, said geomagnetic storms of “strong” (G3) magnitude are expected Sunday night into Monday as the effects of a coronal mass ejection from the sun arrive. NOAA rates solar storms on a five-point scale, with five being the most extreme and rarest space weather conditions.

THESE ARE THE 5 CATEGORIES THAT MEASURE GEOMAGNETIC STORMS

The SWPC predicts the Northern Lights will be visible from after midnight Monday into the early morning hours across much of the northern United States and as far south as Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Massachusetts.

A geomagnetic storm occurs when a flood of electrons hits the Earth following a solar event such as a coronal mass ejection. These interactions can cause problems with the power grid and satellites, but the public need not worry. One positive consequence of a solar storm is that these electrons interact with particles in the Earth's magnetic field, creating vivid displays known as the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights.

Strong geomagnetic storms are less common. However, in May, Earth experienced near-global auroras, even in southern Florida, when an “extreme” geomagnetic storm occurred due to two groups of extremely active sunspots.

Last week, Northern Lights were even spotted south of Las Vegas

Those who woke up early on Thursday during last week's “strong” geomagnetic storm were probably surprised to see northern lights in parts of the Northwest and Northern United States

The National Weather Service in Marquette, Michigan, released this dazzling light display, captured around 4:30 a.m. ET on Thursday morning.

Northern lights were even seen in southern California and Nevada, including on Bureau of Land Management cameras near Angel Peak.

7 FACTS ABOUT THE NORTHERN LIGHTS

Despite wildfire smoke in the region, the National Weather Service in Elko, Nevada, had a good view of the Northern Lights Thursday morning.

Northern lights over Elko, Nevada, on September 12, 2024.

(NWS Elko / X)