Northern lights forecast: Aurora could reach as far south as Alabama Monday night

NOAA issued a G4 'Severe' geomagnetic storm watch after a coronal mass ejection; the aurora may be visible as far south as Alabama Monday night.

Monday night into early Tuesday could bring one of the best chances in months to see the northern lights across much of the United States. The sun released a coronal mass ejection that is expected to arrive then. NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center issued a G4 "Severe" geomagnetic storm watch. The event is expected to produce visible aurora in areas where the lights are usually rare. Key details: - NOAA issued a G4 ("Severe") geomagnetic storm watch for Monday night. - A coronal mass ejection from the sun is expected to arrive Monday night or early Tuesday. - NOAA said the aurora may be visible as far south as Alabama and northern California, and cameras may detect faint color farther south. - Cloud cover is likely to be the main viewing limitation; best viewing is forecast in part of the Ohio Valley, Kansas, Nebraska and most areas west of the Rocky Mountains. - Temperatures are expected to drop below freezing across much of the U.S., with lows below zero in parts of the Midwest, the Dakotas and Nebraska. - The Space Weather Prediction Center noted the storm could affect power systems, spacecraft operations, and satellite and radio navigation, and said mitigation is possible. Summary: The geomagnetic storm is expected to produce aurora widely Monday night, possibly as far south as Alabama, and could linger into early Tuesday in some northern areas. Geomagnetic activity is expected to return to normal by Tuesday night. Officials noted possible impacts to infrastructure and space systems, with mitigation measures mentioned by the prediction center.