A solar storm expected to reach Earth on Thursday could give many Americans living in the South a rare chance to experience the Northern Lights.
This geomagnetic storm is expected to be so strong that Louisiana residents may be able to see the colorful lights too.
The remarkable light display set to fill the sky with purple and green streaks is going to be visible because of a coronal mass ejection, an eruption of solar material and magnetic fields, that scientists say is more severe than usual.
Ranked on a G scale from G1 to G5, researchers at NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center say this solar storm is a significant G4, adding that watches at this level are very rare.
"The aurora may become visible over much of the northern half of the country and maybe as far south as Alabama to northern California," scientists said.
The solar storm could also disrupt navigation systems and produce dangerous geomagnetic induced currents in power grids and pipelines, according to NOAA.
After a coronal mass ejection erupted from the Sun on Tuesday evening, the storm is expected to reach Earth as early as the morning to midday of Thursday.
It isn't certain how far down in the U.S. the auroras will be visible, and NOAA said it won't know more about the solar storm's characteristics until it arrives a million miles from Earth.
If the Northern Lights are visible to Louisianans, Thursday will be the second time this year that the state is exposed to the phenomenon.
In May, Louisiana experienced the strongest geomagnetic solar storm since 2005, exposing residents to a sky full of color.
How to watch
Using a long camera exposure, the Northern Lights can be more clearly seen as opposed to viewing it with the naked eye.
To capture the rare phenomenon, smartphone users can adjust exposure time to around 10 to 15 seconds or enable the night mode feature, if available.
In areas where light pollution is more prominent, the Northern Lights may be weaker. So, consider driving out of a city to get a clearer view.
Last May, Louisianans had luck spotting the vibrant streaks in places like Livingston Parish, Covington and Slidell.