The Northern Lights May Return to the U.S. This Week—Here's How to See Them

While there have been a few opportunities to spot the northern lights throughout the U.S. this year, the celestial phenomenon is expected to make another appearance this week.

On Wednesday, October 2, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center issued a geomagnetic storm warning for October 3 through October 5 due to heightened solar activity.

According to the NOAA, a geomagnetic storm is when a disturbance in Earth's magnetic field occurs. This disruption can vary in intensity depending on how severe the storm is. In the past, strong solar storms have disrupted radio communications, the electric power grid, and navigation.

Geomagnetic storms are rated with a G-scale—ranging from G5, the most extreme, to G1, a minor storm. This storm watch is classified as a G1 to G3 class, with the possibility of the northern lights being visible in states as far south as Illinois and Oregon.

This geomagnetic storm may be caused by a large expulsion of plasma and magnetic field from the sun, also known as a coronal mass ejection (CME), which occurred during a recent explosive X-class solar flare on October 1, per NOAA.

The energy from this solar flare may be strong enough for solar particles to penetrate the atmosphere, creating a vibrant aurora display. The northern lights may become visible over many northern states and some states in the lower midwest.