(NEXSTAR) – Last night, people throughout the United States were able to see the aurora borealis from one coast to the other, a rare sight for many. Those who didn't see it might have another chance tonight.
According to the NOAA’s Aurora Forecast, the majority of households who saw the northern lights last night will have a chance to watch them on Saturday.
If weather permits, states such as Ohio, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Missouri have a chance to see the northern lights again on Saturday night.
On Friday night and Saturday morning, there were
significant G5 geomagnetic storms. A G5 solar storm last occurred in 2003, causing major power problems in Sweden and South Africa.
According to the Space Weather Prediction Center, the aurora activity could continue into Sunday and early next week due to the high levels of solar activity.
Coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, are responsible for the auroras and their interference with our power grid and infrastructure.
The threat of these geomagnetic storms will persist until the large sunspot cluster, which is roughly 16 times the diameter of Earth, rotates out of view. This could take several days.
If you are in an area where the activity is not expected to be as intense this weekend, your best chance to see the lights is between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. in your local time. People with newer cell phones might have a better chance of seeing the lights than those relying solely on their eyesight.
