by A severe geomagnetic storm is expected to hit Earth’s magnetic field on Wednesday, causing widespread disruption to infrastructure technology and making the northern lights visible across much of the northern half of the United States
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a G4 severe geomagnetic storm warning on Tuesday in response to the Sun’s recent coronal mass ejections (CMEs). According to NASA, CMEs are giant bubbles of coronal plasma that the Sun occasionally ejects. The highest geomagnetic storm level is G5, which is considered extreme.
The latest CME is the “most energetic and fastest of the CMEs” to erupt in recent days, NOAA said. It has also been linked to one of the most powerful solar flares of the current solar cycle. The outbreak peaked around 5 a.m. ET on Tuesday and was classified as an R3, or “strong,” outbreak, meaning it has the potential to significantly disrupt high-frequency radio on the sunlit side of the Earth and cause problems with the low-frequency navigation signal.
The Space Weather Prediction Center said the severe storm was expected to hit Earth around midday on Wednesday, although the forecast was “harsh” and there was only a “moderate degree of certainty” about the timing.
Another G3, or strong geomagnetic storm, was expected to hit Earth on Thursday, according to NOAA.
One of the most powerful bursts of the solar cycle occurred on November 11, 2025. / Image credit: NOAA/Space Weather Prediction Center
Northern lights forecast
While the potential geomagnetic storms could cause disruption to critical communications infrastructure, they could also make the auroras visible as far away as Alabama and Northern California starting Tuesday night, NOAA said.
Forecasts from the University of Alaska and the Space Weather Prediction Center suggest the best chance of seeing the Northern Lights is as early as 10 p.m. ET Tuesday and will last until about 1 a.m. Wednesday.
During this time, “highly active auroral phenomena” could be visible in places like Portland, Oregon; Cheyenne, Wyoming and New York City, the University of Alaska said. The northern lights could also be visible near the horizon as far away as Oklahoma City and Raleigh, North Carolina, the university said.
Aurora forecast map for Tuesday, November 11, 2025. / Photo credit: NOAA/Space Weather Prediction Center
In May 2024, a strong coronal mass ejection brought the strongest geomagnetic storm to Earth in more than 20 years. Several X-class solar flares occurred during the CME were recorded. This storm caused some radio blackouts.
Another strong geomagnetic storm in October 2024 led to the northern lights visible as far south as Florida and over bright areas such as New York City and Chicago.
How Democrats and Republicans in the Senate reached an agreement that could end the government shutdown
Passengers wait for hours as air traffic control staffing issues due to the shutdown affect travel
The end of the government shutdown is in sight as some Democrats split and help Republicans
