'Severe' geomagnetic storm spreads Northern Lights farther south than usual on Sunday
Unfortunately, peak activity occurred during Sunday's daylight hours. However, the SWPC said there was still a possibility of "severe" geomagnetic storm levels through Monday morning.
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 have been treated to a rare display of the Northern Lights, 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.
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.
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 scale.
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.
The Sun, from Saturday. Imaged by GOES-19 SUVI Composite 195 Angstroms. (NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center / FOX Weather)
"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 could include widespread problems with voltage control and some issues with the power grid. Additionally, spacecraft could also 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.
By Monday evening, the geomagnetic storm conditions will weaken to "minor" (G1) levels.