Northern lights could be visible in 16 states tonight — best viewing times for March 31

Auroras may be visible from Alaska to Wyoming tonight as Earth braces for impact from a speedy coronal mass ejection.

Geomagnetic activity is forecast to ramp up today due to the anticipated arrival of a CME that left the sun during an X. 1.4 solar flare eruption in the early hours of March 30. It is currently zipping toward Earth at approximately 1118 miles per second (1900 km/s) and although it is not predicted to hit us head-on, a glancing blow could trigger minor to moderate (G1 to G2) geomagnetic storm conditions overnight.

According to NOAA's latest forecast, activity is expected to peak at moderate (G2) storm levels tonight and gradually ease to minor (G1) levels by April 1. Geomagnetic activity is ranked on a scale from G1 to G5 depending on how strong the disturbance to Earth's magnetic field is.