‘Strong’ Northern Lights Alert For 20 States On Monday As CME Strikes

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The northern lights may shimmer across skies in up to 20 northern U.S. states Monday through Tuesday, June 8-9, following a coronal mass ejection from the sun, according to NOAA. The solar event has triggered a "strong" geomagnetic storm watch, expanding the typical aurora viewing zone well south of its usual Canadian perch. Stargazers in states like Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, and possibly as far south as Montana and North Dakota, should look north after dark for the ethereal green and purple displays. Timing and visibility depend on cloud cover and light pollution, but the window is narrow: these solar storms fade quickly once the charged particles finish battering Earth's magnetosphere.