Oct. 16 (UPI) -- The Aurora Borealis, typically only seen in the farthest northern reaches in the coldest winter months, could be visible in 15 U.S. states Thursday night, scientists reported.

The National Atmospheric Oceanic and Administration issued a geomagnetic storm watch for Thursday, which is responsible for the Northern Lights' unusual geographical visibility.

Isolated G2 (Moderate) geomagnetic storm activity is likely by late on 16 Oct with the arrival of CMEs that left the Sun over the course of 11-13 Oct. G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storm activity is likely to carry on into 17 Oct. pic.twitter.com/H7OobuqjCV— NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (@NWSSWPC) October 14, 2025

The storm has prompted a series of Coronal Mass Ejections from the sun, which are responsible for creating the northern lights when they interact with the Earth's atmosphere, creating a gaseous, constantly shifting, multicolored but unpredictable spectacle in a clear sky

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