North Texans have their eyes and phones to the skies as a powerful geomagnetic storm has triggered the Northern Lights across the Lone Star State.
As the sun set Thursday night, many northern parts of the United States caught a rare glimpse at the dazzling natural light display.
North Texas was outside of the current visibility forecast, but it hasn't been impossible.
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Northern Lights MAY be visible in North Texas
A geomagnetic storm could make the Northern Lights visible in North Texas tonight. FOX 4's Dan Henry breaks down the chances.
This May, some North Texans were able to see the Northern Lights.
You can increase your chances by getting away from the city lights.
Northern lights: North Texans dazzled by out-of-this-world display
The best conditions to see the northern lights are on a clear night in rural areas, without light pollution from city lights.
What we know
A coronal mass ejection (CME) from the sun will reach Earth's atmosphere on Thursday, creating a geomagnetic storm – which fuels the aurora.
The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration forecasts the storm will reach a G-4 rating – or become a "severe" geomagnetic storm. The highest rating on the geomagnetic scale is G-5.
Timeline
As of Thursday afternoon, the geomagnetic storm reached "severe" or G-4 status between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. central time.
The NOAA forecast now has the G-4 storm lasting through 1 a.m. CT.
- Thursday, 1 p.m.: Storm reaches G-4 rating
- Thursday, 6:59 p.m.: Sunset in Dallas
- Thursday, 7 p.m. to Friday, 1 a.m.: Storm remains G-4 status
- Friday, 1 a.m.: Storm is expected to decrease to G-3 status for the remainder of the overnight hours.
If you see the Nothern Lights in North Texas send us an email at kdfwwebsite@fox.com.