Rare chance to see northern lights in Colorado this weekend

A rare G4 geomagnetic storm on Saturday put on a show across Colorado skies as geomagnetic activity will push auroras farther south than usual. Although it was initially forecast to peak on Sunday night, atmospheric conditions led the storm to peak Saturday.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, solar wind, along with a coronal mass ejection, is putting pressure on Earth's magnetic field. The coronal mass ejection arrived earlier than expected. Although the storm has peaked, weaker aurora might be visible Sunday into early Monday morning.

The strong G4 storm made the aurora visible with the naked eye as far south as Colorado.

For those hoping to view the aurora Sunday, it must be nighttime, and the skies must be free of clouds. Stay clear of any areas with light pollution, like within cities, and look to the northern horizon. You might catch a glimpse of the soft glowing bands of primarily green light with possible pinks and purples mixed in.

The intensity and color will vary depending on the distance from the aurora and how strong it is.

A strong to severe geomagnetic storm could possibly cause voltage control problems and may trip out assets from the grid, said NOAA.