Colorful northern lights could be visible in several states in the Pacific Northwest, Upper Midwest and Northeast on Thursday evening.
While the stunning Aurora Borealis phenomenon is best viewed in Alaska and Canada, residents from Oregon to New York also have a chance to observe it, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center.
Following Tuesday’s solar flares, the center issued a moderate geomagnetic storm warning of level G2 because northern lights activity will be heightened on Thursday night. If the forecast geomagnetic storm strengths are reached, the eruption of solar material and magnetic fields will produce the popular natural lights in the sky.
A Kp level of 6 was given, which means that the aurora becomes brighter and more active the further it moves from the poles.
“At this level of geomagnetic activity, it may be possible to see the aurora from the northern edge of the United States,” the center explains.
In August, the auroras were visible as far south as Alabama and as far west as Northern California following a severe geomagnetic solar storm that produced at least five ejecta flares.
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Countries where the Northern Lights could be seen
Americans in at least 17 states will have the opportunity to see the Northern Lights on Thursday evening.
The following continental US states are within the viewing range of the Northern Lights:
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Washington
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Oregon
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Idaho
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Montana
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Wyoming
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North Dakota
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South Dakota
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Nebraska
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Minnesota
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Iowa
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Wisconsin
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Illinois
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Michigan
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new York
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Vermont
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New Hampshire
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Maine
When will the Northern Lights be visible?
The aurora is expected to be bright, active, and visible across parts of 17 continental U.S. states on the night of Thursday, September 12, 2024.
What are the Northern Lights and how do they work?
According to NASA, auroras are bands of light that stretch across the Earth’s northern and southern polar regions.
Geomagnetic storms are caused by solar activity such as solar flares or coronal mass ejections. The solar wind moves energetic charged particles from these events away from the sun, creating the northern lights.
Can you see the Northern Lights with the naked eye?
Northern lights can be safely observed without a telescope or microscope. The visibility of the aurora depends on several factors, such as location, weather, time of night and the level of geomagnetic activity present.
Contributors: Doyle Rice and Dinah Voyles Pulver
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 17 states where you can see the Northern Lights this week
