BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — For the second time in just over a year, residents of Alabama may catch a glimpse of the northern lights tonight as a powerful geomagnetic storm pushes the aurora borealis unusually far south.
The northern lights, typically reserved for far northern latitudes, could be visible low on the northern horizon in Alabama on Sunday night into early Monday, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center. The phenomenon is rare for the region but has become more frequent as the sun’s activity increases during its 11-year cycle.
Forecasters say a severe geomagnetic storm, sparked by a coronal mass ejection—a burst of solar material and magnetic fields from the sun—reached Earth on Sunday. While the most vivid displays are expected in northern states, parts of the Deep South, including Alabama, may see the aurora if skies remain clear.
The last time the northern lights were visible across much of the United States—including as far south as Alabama—was during a historic storm in May 2024. Such events remain rare, but with the sun’s current heightened activity, they are becoming less unusual.
Residents hoping to spot the northern lights are advised to seek out a dark location with a clear view to the north and to look for subtle glows or colors near the horizon. Cameras and smartphones may be able to pick up the aurora even if it is not easily visible to the naked eye.