Northern Lights Expected Across Northern U.S. This Weekend
A geomagnetic storm caused by heightened solar activity is expected to make the northern lights visible across parts of the United States this weekend. Typically confined to regions near the poles, such as Alaska and northern Canada, the aurora borealis may extend into the northern tier of the continental U.S. due to this rare event. The phenomenon occurs when charged particles from the sun collide with gases in Earth's upper atmosphere, releasing energy as light. The best viewing opportunities will be in states closest to the auroral oval, including Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Maine. If the storm intensifies, visibility could extend further south into states like Oregon, Illinois, and New York. Observers are advised to look northward under clear skies, particularly between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time. 
