Ongoing 'severe' geomagnetic storm could spread Northern Lights farther south than usual Sunday night

FILE: Geomagnetic storm produces aurora lights in Central Illinois

A photographer near Varna, Illinois captured the Northern Lights during a geomagnetic storm on Tuesday, March 25, 2025.

"Severe" geomagnetic storm levels were reached on Sunday, and millions of Americans across the nation – perhaps even as far as the Deep South – may be treated to a rare display of the Northern Lights on Sunday night and early Monday, according to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC).

A powerful coronal mass ejection (CME), a burst of solar material and magnetic fields from the Sun, erupted on Friday night, triggering a "severe" Geomagnetic Storm Watch, the SWPC said.

WHAT IS A GEOMAGNETIC STORM?

The CME arrived at Earth on Sunday, producing a "severe" (level G4 out of G5) geomagnetic storm, causing disruptions to the planet’s magnetosphere and triggering displays of Northern Lights as far south as Texas.

Unfortunately, peak activity occurred during Sunday's daylight hours. However, the SWPC said there is still a possibility of "severe" geomagnetic storm levels through Monday morning. 

The show on Sunday morning was bright enough for those across the northern U.S. to see the aurora. Faint Northern Lights sightings were even reported as far south as Amarillo, Texas, with the help of a camera. 

The greatest Kp levels over 24 hours reached an 8 out of 9 on NOAA's geomagnetic storm scales.

The aurora forecast shows Kp levels up to 7 from Sunday night into Monday morning.

The Sun, from Saturday. Imaged by GOES-19 SUVI Composite 195 Angstroms.

(NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center / FOX Weather)

The SWPC initially issued a "strong" (level G3 out of G5) Geomagnetic Storm Watch for Sunday before upgrading it to a "severe" (level G4 out of G5) Geomagnetic Storm Watch for Sunday night and into early Monday morning. 

"CME passages can take some time, in this instance, we anticipate CME passage will continue but will slowly weaken," SWPC forecasters said on Sunday. "However, we feel the solar wind conditions will still be elevated enough to make a suffer escalation to G3-G4 levels possible if the CME magnetic field shifts southward."

WHAT ARE THE 5 CATEGORIES THAT MEASURE GEOMAGNETIC STORMS?

While strong geomagnetic storms are harmless to human health, potential impacts include widespread problems with voltage control and some issues with the power grid. Additionally, spacecraft may experience problems, such as low-Earth orbit satellites experiencing increased drag. High-frequency radio signals may be disrupted.

Time-lapse in Idaho captures the vibrant and colorful lights from an aurora

According to the National Weather Service, the Aurora Borealis, or "Northern Lights," occur during geomagnetic storms when charged particles impact the Earth's upper atmosphere.

On the aesthetic side, the geomagnetic storm is expected to produce an aurora that will be visible over much of the northern half of the U.S., with some of the displays potentially dipping down as far south as Alabama and Northern California.

The forecast looks favorable across much of the U.S., and even in the South, except for the Desert Southwest, where the remnants of Tropical Storm Alvin are bringing clouds and storms.

Those north of the yellow line in the graphic below have the best chance to see the Northern Lights with the naked eye. Anyone south of that line will likely need a camera or smartphone to spot the colors in the sky. 

---

 

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

By Monday evening, the geomagnetic storm conditions will weaken to "minor" (G1) levels.