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

Northern Lights May Be Visible in Parts of the U.S. Due to Solar Storms

Space weather forecasters predict that solar storms could bring colorful auroras to parts of the northern United States. A large burst of energy from the sun, known as a coronal mass ejection, is currently en route to Earth.

The event has prompted the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to issue a strong geomagnetic storm watch. The solar burst is expected to arrive between Thursday evening and Friday morning.

Visibility and brightness of the auroras will depend on the arrival time and how the solar energy interacts with Earth's magnetic field. If conditions align, auroras may "quite likely spin up overnight," according to Shawn Dahl, a NOAA space weather forecaster.

“If the timing is right, it’s possible auroras will quite likely spin up overnight.” — Shawn Dahl, NOAA

Authorities are closely monitoring the storm but do not expect significant disruptions to radio or communication signals at this time.

Tracking Auroras

For those in areas with aurora forecasts, NOAA provides tracking tools to help determine the best times and places to view the northern lights.

An aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, lights up the night sky off Lake Michigan and the St. (Don Campbell/The Herald-Palladium via AP, File)

Summary

A recent solar coronal mass ejection is expected to produce northern lights visible across northern U.S. regions, with NOAA advising viewers to track forecasts for the best chance to observe the phenomenon.

AP News — 2025-11-06