Forecast: Northern lights expected for parts of the Pacific Northwest this week as geomagnetic storm watch extended

(NEXSTAR) — Solar activity is picking up after an already active weekend, according to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), prompting forecasters to extend the geomagnetic storm watch issued Monday through the week.

The sun recently sent out a massive solar flare reaching X1.5 strength — while not as strong as the X5 flare reported earlier this year, it was one of the strongest in 2024. Others, as well as filament eruptions, have also sparked coronal mass ejections (CMEs), according to the SWPC.