A Severe Solar Storm May Create Dazzling Auroral Displays Across the US This Week

A geomagnetic storm is heading towards Earth—and it may give stargazers in the United States an opportunity to see the northern lights, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center.  

On Wednesday, the NOAA issued a severe geomagnetic storm watch for the evening of October 10 to October 11 following a detected eruption from the sun, called a coronal mass ejection (CME).

The storm is classified as a level 4, meaning it's the second-highest level on the SWPC's geomagnetic storm scale, which ranges from 1 to 5. Severe solar storms have the potential to cause widespread voltage control issues.

Per the NOAA, a geomagnetic storm is when a disturbance in Earth's magnetic field occurs. In the past, strong solar storms have disrupted the electric power grid and navigation and radio communications.

Once the geomagnetic storm hits Earth, it's expected to create a vibrant auroral display across the country. The northern lights may be visible in states such as Alabama and Northern California, further south than they usually appear.