Parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Washington and several other states in the Lower 48 were treated to a beautiful aurora borealis Monday evening amid a “severe” (G4) geomagnetic storm.

On Monday, charged particles crashed into Earth, creating powerful solar storms, triggering a geomagnetic storm warning as the Northern Lights were expected to be visible further south than usual after sunset.

NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) rates solar storms on a five-point scale, with five being the most extreme and rarest space weather conditions.

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Chance of a similar northern lights spectacle on Tuesday evening

A geomagnetic storm occurs when a flood of electrons hits the Earth following a solar event such as a coronal mass ejection. These interactions can cause problems with the power grid and satellites, but the public need not worry. One positive consequence of a solar storm is that these electrons interact with particles in the Earth’s magnetic field, creating vivid displays known as the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights.

The SWPC issued a severe (G4) geomagnetic storm warning at 10:57 p.m. ET Monday evening and said G4 conditions could recur overnight Tuesday.

These stronger geomagnetic storms are less common than G1 or G2 events. However, in May, Earth experienced near-global auroras, even as far south as Florida, when an “extreme” (G5) geomagnetic storm occurred due to two groups of extremely active sunspots.

Last week, Northern Lights were even spotted south of Las Vegas

Those who got up early last Thursday during another “strong” geomagnetic storm were probably surprised to see northern lights in parts of the northwest and northern United States

The National Weather Service in Marquette, Michigan, released this dazzling light display, captured last Thursday morning around 4:30 a.m. ET.

Northern lights were even seen in southern California and Nevada, including on Bureau of Land Management cameras near Angel Peak.

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Despite wildfire smoke in the region, the National Weather Service in Elko, Nevada, had a good view of the Northern Lights last Thursday morning.

Northern lights over Elko, Nevada, on September 12, 2024.

(NWS Elko / X)