Parts of the United States and Canada could see the results of the latest solar storm over the next few days.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Space Weather Prediction Center says a solar storm is heading toward Earth, and it could create some auroras, also known as northern lights, across parts of the United States and Canada over the next few days, although visibility is unlikely for the First Coast. 

The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a Severe (G4) Geomagnetic Storm Watch for Wednesday, Nov. 12, following several large solar eruptions over the past few days. 

These storms come from coronal mass ejections — bursts of plasma and magnetic energy from the sun that have been firing toward Earth since Friday. The latest eruption was linked to a major X-class flare, one of the strongest types the sun can produce.


So who will be able to see it? 

If the impact is strong enough, it could cause a colorful aurora display across much of Canada and parts of the northern U.S., especially the Great Lakes, upper Midwest, and Northeast on Tuesday and Wednesday night.

Residents farther south, including on the First Coast, are less likely to see the lights unless the storm grows stronger than expected. The best chance to view the aurora will come under clear, dark skies away from city lights, looking toward the northern horizon.

In May of 2024, an intense solar storm created Auroras around the world including the First Coast. Those images were shared via our weather watchers below. 

Aurora’s seen all across the First Coast in Florida and Georgia Friday night