Northern lights tonight: Alabama among states with chance to see aurora

A powerful geomagnetic storm could make the northern lights visible in North Alabama tonight, with visibility expected farther south than usual.

The aurora borealis may be seen across much of the United States, from New York to Washington State and as far south as Alabama and Northern California, according to The New York Times. The storm is expected to arrive Monday and continue into early Tuesday, with the best viewing opportunities after dark.

According to WVTM-TV chief meteorologist Jason Simpson, the visibility could go as far south as Gadsden. Even further South, limited visibility may be available by capturing a cell phone image.

Looking north, viewers may catch pink and red glows, which can often be captured on a cell phone using “Night” mode. The aurora is best viewed near sunset or just before sunrise and away from city lights. Sunset in Huntsville is around 5:02 p.m.

Geomagnetic storms occur when eruptions from the sun — known as coronal mass ejections — send charged particles toward Earth that interact with the planet’s magnetic field. When these particles collide with gases in the atmosphere, they create the glowing display known as the northern lights.

The colors depend on which gases are affected. Oxygen produces green or red hues, like those expected tonight, while nitrogen creates purple and blue shades.

At least half of the U.S. states are expected to have a chance to see the aurora, though cloud cover could limit visibility in parts of north Alabama, according to meteorological reports.