Des Moines, IA – A rare G4-level geomagnetic storm turned skies vibrant across the United States Tuesday night, with the northern lights visible from Washington to Alabama — and as far south as Texas. The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed that the ongoing solar event, one of the strongest in recent years, produced widespread auroras glowing red, green, and purple across much of the nation.
According to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, the storm was triggered by a powerful coronal mass ejection (CME) that reached Earth earlier in the day. As the solar particles collided with Earth’s atmosphere, dazzling auroral activity became visible well beyond typical northern latitudes.
Social media posts from NWS offices in Seattle, Des Moines, Huntsville, Springfield, and Abilene captured brilliant skyglows over city skylines and rural fields alike. Even residents in parts of Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois shared vivid images of the rare display.
Forecasters say the light show may continue into the early hours of Wednesday, though visibility will depend on cloud cover and light pollution. NOAA cautioned that while minor radio and GPS disruptions are possible, no major impacts have been reported.
