Across the state, many Oklahomans will get a glimpse of the aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, on Thursday evening. This is a rare occurrence for the state.

Northern Lights are typically seen in the northern US and Canada. A powerful geomagnetic storm will allow more people to see the lights tonight.

The aurora is caused by the solar wind interacting with the Earth’s magnetic field. When the charged particles collide with gases in the atmosphere, they create the luminous glow often associated with far northern areas such as Alaska or Canada.

Viewers across the state are sharing photos of the lights.

Image provided by: Abbi Jerry

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