A large coronal mass ejection, or CME, hurtled through space and hit Earth square on, creating a mid-latitude aurora borealis sub-storm, Tuesday night, Nov. 11, 2025. The photo was made on Geysers Road viewing north over Black Mountain in the Mayacamas Mountains.
The skies glowed red Tuesday night across parts of Northern California as the northern lights lent their rare glow overhead, the result of a strong geomagnetic storm that pushed the aurora further south. Press Democrat photojournalist Kent Porter captured the spectacle along Geysers Road and along Dry Creek Road in Healdsburg.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said heightened solar activity fueled the vibrant display as the sun nears the peak of its 11-year solar cycle. Stargazers in Sonoma and Napa counties had another chance to glimpse the lights between 8 and 10 p.m. Wednesday, particularly from darker rural areas with a clear view to the north, weather permitting.