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People living in more than a half-dozen states could see a dazzling — and surprising — display of the Northern Lights between Thursday night and Friday morning.
National Weather Service offices in Washington state, Montana, Wyoming, Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, North Dakota, and New York reported seeing the dancing green glow of the aurora borealis overnight.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center’s aurora forecast cited “stronger than anticipated” influences as it predicted conditions for the Northern Lights would continue into Friday morning.
The effects from a blast of solar energy that triggers geomagnetic storms, which in turn bring the aurora, were expected to weaken on Friday.
The faint aurora is typically only visible from a dark place, making it tougher to see in metropolitan areas.
PREVIOUSLY:Northern lights dazzle in the sky across Europe in stunning timelapse
FEBRUARY:Aurora borealis made a rare appearance in Colorado, setting skies ablaze
What did the Northern Lights look like?
Weather Service offices shared photos of skies ablaze with shimmering green and purple hues.
Forecasters were stunned by the display, including an incredulous tweet from a Minnesota forecast office: “I’m no photographer but we’re able to see the Aurora with our naked eye here in Chanhassen!”
The weather service office in Spokane, Washington, called the spectacle “stunning.”
Washington
Wyoming
Minnesota
South Dakota
North Dakota
Montana
New York
Wisconsin
What causes the Northern Lights?
The colorful aurora forms when particles flowing from the sun get caught up in Earth’s magnetic field. The particles interact with molecules of atmospheric gases to cause the famed glowing red and green colors of the aurora.
Contributing: Doyle Rice, USA TODAY; Drake Bentley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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