Parts of the United States could see the northern lights Monday night after a major disturbance in Earth’s magnetic field, according to a forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center.
The forecast said the aurora could be visible across Canada and much of the northern tier of U.S. states, and possibly farther south. It came amid intense geomagnetic and solar radiation storms, Shawn Dahl, service coordinator at the center, said.
Geomagnetic storms that can produce vivid auroras also can interfere with satellite operations, GPS communications and other infrastructure, the U.S. Geological Survey said. Dahl said the current storm isn’t expected to become much weaker until sometime Tuesday.
Solar radiation storms can affect objects in space and certain types of communications systems, Dahl said. He also said astronauts at the International Space Station currently are not at risk.
Dahl said the intensity of the storm has not been seen in more than two decades. The report pointed to previous impacts from November solar storms, when vibrant auroras were seen in parts of Europe including Hungary and the United Kingdom, and as far south in the United States as Kansas, Colorado and Texas.