Americans may witness a rare celestial display this week as a powerful geomagnetic storm, triggered by solar activity, could allow viewers in 22 states to glimpse the Northern Lights. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has confirmed an intense surge of solar material interacting with Earth’s magnetic field will create one of the year’s strongest storms, potentially extending the aurora’s visibility far beyond its typical Arctic range.

Astronomers predict that residents in 22 U.S. states—Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine—may catch a glimpse of the phenomenon. However, visibility depends on factors such as light pollution, cloud cover, and geographic positioning.

The storm, classified as G3-level by NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, follows four coronal mass ejections (CMEs) detected since Monday. While most CMEs missed Earth, one directed toward the planet on Wednesday intensified into a significant event. Although infrastructure operators have been alerted to potential disruptions—such as power grid fluctuations and satellite risks—the public’s primary focus remains the aurora.

Experts caution that the storm’s full impact could shift as solar material interacts with Earth’s atmosphere, making the display highly unpredictable. Viewers are advised to seek locations with minimal light pollution and a clear northern horizon for the best chance to observe the event.