Powerful solar flare to cause northern lights in September

A series of powerful solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) in early September has led to deteriorating space weather. The peak of geomagnetic activity, according to SWPC and NOAA, occurred on September 7–8, 2026, causing auroras visible in northern US states, including Alaska, Montana, and Minnesota. The storm is classified as G1.

A series of powerful solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) in early September has led to deteriorating space weather. The first massive plasma ejection detached from the Sun on September 2, and a second was recorded on September 4 in the region of active zone—sunspot 4524. The peak of geomagnetic activity, according to calculations by the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) and NOAA, occurred on September 7–8, 2026. The best conditions for observing the aurora were in the pre-dawn hours of September 8. The visibility zone included northern US states: Alaska, northern Washington, Idaho, Montana, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, northern New York, and Maine. The highest chances were forecast for Montana, North Dakota, and Minnesota. The storm is classified as G1—the weakest category. Scientists do not rule out increased activity in the coming days. The article also explains the physics of the aurora: oxygen produces green and red hues, nitrogen produces blue and purple.