Northern lights may be visible in 24 states Jan. 19 as a massive CME slams into Earth

Space • January 19, 2026 • general

Key Points:

A powerful coronal mass ejection (CME) from a recent X-class solar flare struck Earth on Jan. 19, triggering severe (G4) geomagnetic storm conditions confirmed by NOAA, which could push the northern lights much farther south than usual.
The geomagnetic storm began at 2:38 p.m. EST and is expected to continue through the evening, enhancing aurora visibility across 24 U.S. states including Alaska, Washington, Minnesota, New York, and Colorado, among others.
The intensity and visibility of the auroras depend on the CME’s magnetic field orientation; a southward alignment (Bz) would intensify the storm and aurora displays, while a northward orientation could weaken or prevent them