A stunning show of the Northern Lights could once again light up skies across the United States tonight — and this time, the colorful display might stretch as far south as Florida.
The glowing reds, purples, and greens have already been spotted over Alabama, Ohio, and Texas, as a powerful burst of solar energy — known as a geomagnetic storm — continues to hit Earth. Experts say the storm could grow even stronger, with the “final and most energetic” coronal mass ejection (CME) expected to arrive by Wednesday afternoon.
What’s causing the spectacle?
A CME is a massive explosion of charged particles — including protons, electrons, and magnetic fields — blasted from the sun’s outer atmosphere. When these high-speed solar clouds crash into Earth’s magnetic field, they create the stunning waves of light known as the aurora borealis (Northern Lights) and aurora australis (Southern Lights).
A rare and powerful storm
According to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colorado, two CMEs have already hit Earth, sparking a G4-level geomagnetic storm — that’s the second-highest on the five-step scale.
“This magnetic field is about eight times stronger than normal, and conditions remain perfect for more activity,” said Shawn Dahl, a NOAA forecaster, in a video shared on X (formerly Twitter).
Because of the storm’s intensity, experts have warned of possible power fluctuations, GPS issues, and radio signal disruptions in some areas.
Where to look tonight
The Space Weather Prediction Center called this level of solar storm “very rare”, saying the core of the CME is currently sweeping over Earth and will continue through the night.
With a third and even stronger CME expected to arrive soon, stargazers could catch the aurora glowing even farther south than before.
And there’s a chance things might get even more intense — Dahl said the storm could briefly hit G5, the highest possible level on the geomagnetic scale.
So, if skies are clear where you are tonight, grab a blanket, head outside, and look north — you just might see one of nature’s most breathtaking light shows right above you.
