Northern Lights May 31 2024. A celestial event called solar cycle 25 —the cycle the sun goes through around every 11 years—has been the cause of geomagnetic storms that have resulted. Forecasters from the national weather service's space weather prediction center say the colorful northern lights may be visible from some northern states.

The space weather prediction center. Conditions are primed for more aurora shows over the next few years, but experts say even the best predictions.