Omaha, Nebraska – A narrow overnight window could bring a rare glimpse of the northern lights to parts of Nebraska as a solar storm peaks late Sunday.
According to the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, a G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storm will intensify between 11 p.m. Sunday and 2 a.m. Monday, pushing aurora visibility into portions of the central Plains. The activity is fueled by lingering solar eruption energy combined with a fast-moving solar wind stream.
The best chance for visibility will be across northern Nebraska, including Norfolk, O’Neill, and areas closer to the South Dakota border. In Omaha and Lincoln, visibility is less certain but still possible under clear skies, with faint green or pink light bands appearing low on the northern horizon.
Drivers along I-80 and Highway 81 may notice a subtle glow in the sky overnight, though no travel impacts are expected. For better viewing, residents should head to darker rural areas away from city lights and allow at least 20 minutes for their eyes to adjust.
Cloud cover may limit visibility at times, but breaks could develop overnight. Elevated geomagnetic activity may linger into early Monday, with additional updates possible if storm strength increases.
