• Northern lights may be visible across 18 U.S. states tonight.
• Visibility is due to a geomagnetic storm from a coronal mass ejection.
• Experts recommend viewing from dark locations away from city lights.

The northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis, are expected to illuminate the skies over 18 U.S. states tonight due to a geomagnetic storm caused by a coronal mass ejection (CME) from the sun. This energy release initiated a geomagnetic disturbance that NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center predicts could result in stunning auroras visible across many regions, including parts of the Midwest and the northern states. The phenomenon has the potential to create displays in vibrant green and pink hues, bringing excitement to both amateur and professional aurora watchers, according to CBS News, ABC News, and Newsweek.

NOAA has issued a geomagnetic storm watch indicating that conditions will be most favorable for viewing the northern lights from just after sunset until just before sunrise. States such as Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, and Michigan are among those where people might get the best visibility. According to NOAA, even residents outside the immediate viewline may catch glimpses of the lights if conditions are appropriate, potentially up to 1,000 kilometers away if the aurora is bright enough. These developments highlight the interaction of solar activity with Earth's magnetic field, as mentioned by ABC News and Newsweek.

The solar storm originates from the CME, which pushed charged particles towards Earth, generating the expected auroral displays. Forecasters classify the geomagnetic storm as reaching levels classified from G2 to G3, with G3 indicating a strong geomagnetic storm. This scale reflects the potential impact on technological systems as well. As these spectacular light shows occur, individuals are advised to seek dark locations away from artificial light for the best viewing experience, something reiterated by experts in the field from CBS News and Newsweek.