Will there be Northern Lights on Sunday?

(NEXSTAR) — It’s been quite the weekend for skywatchers as rare, strong geomagnetic storms hit Earth, causing dazzling northern lights — and it’s not over yet.

NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) says more “very rapid coronal mass ejections will occur in the Earth’s magnetic field” through Sunday evening, giving Americans a third straight night with a chance of observe the Northern Lights.

On Saturday, the aurora was strong enough to reach Florida, according to Nexstar’s WFLA. This is only possible when geomagnetic storms reach strength G5, explains the SWPC (this is how geomagnetic storms are classified).

G5 level storms were also reported overnight from Friday to Saturday. We haven’t seen G5-level storms since 2005, when a series of coronal mass ejections brought dazzling northern lights as far away as California, Texas and Florida – states that rarely see them – and caused other (less impressive) technical problems.

As for Sunday, the SWPC warns that we could see storms of G4 or higher. Below is the SWPC Northern Lights forecast for Sunday: Areas in red have the highest chance of seeing the Northern Lights, while those in green and near and above the red line have a higher chance. weak. It should be noted that forecasts can fluctuate and the Northern Lights can appear even in areas that are not shaded red or green on the map below.

If you are unable to see the Northern Lights on Sunday evening, you can try using your phone. Point your camera at the night sky and take a photo: you might be surprised to see the auroras.

You may have a chance to spot the Northern Lights again this week, with the SWPC reporting that aurora activity may continue as solar activity remains particularly high. This also means potential impacts to our power grid and other infrastructure, although many are prepared for events like this and no serious problems have been reported with this storm.

All this solar activity is due to solar cycle 25, which was expected to peak this year. During the 11-year period of a solar cycle, the sun will reverse its poles, causing solar activity generating geomagnetic storms on Earth.

Alix Martichoux and The Associated Press contributed to this report.