Stunning Northern Lights Dazzle Across US Night Skies. Here's Where To See Them Tonight

Last Updated:November 12, 2025, 22:56 IST

The rare event was marked by waves of red, green, and purple hues visible in states including Texas, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida

The best viewing areas include northern New England, the Great Lakes region, the upper Midwest, and the Pacific Northwest. (Image via X/@NWSMobile)

A spectacular display of northern lights lit up the skies across much of the United States overnight Tuesday, reaching as far south as Florida. The rare event was marked by waves of red, green, and purple hues visible in states including Texas, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.

Experts say the show was caused by a burst of energy from the sun, known as a coronal mass ejection (CME), interacting with Earth’s magnetic field.

The Space Weather Prediction Center had issued a G4 “severe" geomagnetic storm watch for Wednesday, the second-highest level on a five-step scale. The same storm produced the vivid lights seen Tuesday night, CNN reported.

Geomagnetic storms occur when solar wind interacts with Earth’s magnetosphere. Charged particles collide with gases in the upper atmosphere, producing the dancing lights commonly known as the aurora borealis. Different colours, including red, green, and purple, appear due to interactions with different gases.

While these displays are visually stunning, strong geomagnetic storms can sometimes affect technology. Potential impacts include voltage control problems in power grids, GPS disruptions, and interference with radio and satellite systems. However, forecasters note that most people will experience little more than a breathtaking sky show.

Another chance to see the northern lights is expected on Wednesday evening. The best viewing areas include northern New England, the Great Lakes region, the upper Midwest, and the Pacific Northwest. Clear skies are essential, and clouds could limit visibility in parts of the Northwest, New England, and upstate New York.

Meteorologists note that areas like the Dakotas, northern and central Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan could have particularly good conditions for spotting the aurora. Meanwhile, areas further south may see a fainter display compared to Tuesday night.

The current solar activity is part of a series of eruptions from an active sunspot cluster. Forecasters warn that additional coronal mass ejections are expected in the coming days, which could lead to more aurora displays in the nights ahead.

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