Northern lights could be visible in Missouri and Illinois Monday night

KSDK • January 20, 2026 • nation

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NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a Severe Geomagnetic Storm Alert, marking the strongest geomagnetic storm in over 20 years impacting Earth tonight.
The aurora has been visible in some areas despite the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) currently remaining north; a southward shift of the IMF could enhance visibility of the northern lights in the northern sky.
Clear skies over the bi-state region of Missouri and Illinois increase the chances of seeing the northern lights, though visibility depends on the fluctuating orientation of the IMF.
The geomagnetic storm is caused by a coronal mass ejection (CME) from the sun on January 18, which interacts with Earth's atmosphere to potentially create auroras.