Updated Oct 11, 2024 - Energy & Climate

In photos: Northern lights dazzle skies across the U.S. and world

Rebecca Falconer

The northern lights illuminate the sky above the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 10. — The northern lights, or aurora borealis, which were triggered by a powerful solar flare and coronal mass ejection released from the sun that caused a geomagnetic storm, illuminate the sky above the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 10, . Photo: Jonah Bryson

The northern lights returned to skies across the U.S. and the world over Thursday night after a powerful solar storm triggered stunning celestial displays also known as aurora borealis.

The big picture: Extreme G4 geomagnetic conditions were observed Thursday and remained overnight, per NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, which warned the storm had the potential to disrupt communications and the electric power grid.

The northern lights illuminate the sky over the Jinshanling Great Wall in Daqing, Heilongjiang province of China, on Oct. 11. Photo: VCG/VCG via Getty Images

An aurora colored pink and green over trees and buildings with bright lights on the Lake of the Isles, about a mile from downtown Minneapolis. — The scene at Lake of the Isles, about a mile from downtown Minneapolis, on Thursday night. Photo: Audrey Kennedy/Axios

Northern lights, or aurora borealis, over the river Vecht in Overijssel, in Dalfsen, the Netherlands, on Oct. 10, which were triggered by a powerful solar flare and coronal mass ejection released from the sun that caused a geomagnetic storm. — The aurora borealis over the river Vecht in Overijssel, in Dalfsen, the Netherlands, on Oct. 10. Photo: Sjoerd van der Wal/Getty Images

Aurora over the Tappan Zee or Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge Bridge on October 11, 2024 near New York City. — Aurora over the Tappan Zee or Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge Bridge on Oct. 11, near New York City. Photo: Roy Rochlin/Getty Images

Red-green Aurora Borealis lights up the night sky over Pitstone Windmill in Buckinghamshire on October 10, 2024 in Pitstone, United Kingdom. — The aurora borealis over Pitstone Windmill in Pitstone, Buckinghamshire, U.K., on Oct. 10. Photo: Jim Dyson/Getty Images

Red and green Northern Lights appear in the sky during a geomagnetic storm on October 10, 2024 in White Lake, North Carolina. — The northern lights appear in the sky during a geomagnetic storm on October 10 in White Lake, North Carolina. Photo: Lance King/Getty Images

An aurora borealis from the Castelltallat astronomical observatory, on October 10, 2024, in Catelltallat, Barcelona, Catalonia (Spain). Last May, the northern lights were seen in some areas of the peninsula, surprising the inhabitants of several cities. — An aurora borealis from the Castelltallat astronomical observatory in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, on Oct. 10. Photo: Lorena Sopena/Europa Press via Getty Images

The Northern Lights are seen in Sugarloaf Key, just 15 miles from Key West. According to the Space Weather Prediction Center, a severe geomagnetic storm began Tuesday night, making the lights visible much further south than usual. — The Northern Lights are seen in Sugarloaf Key, 15 miles from Key West, on Oct. 11. Photo: Jen Golbeck/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

The northern lights (aurora borealis) appear in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on October 10, 2024. — The northern lightsappear in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on Oct. 10. Photo: Creative Touch Imaging Ltd./NurPhoto via Getty Images

The aurora borealis is seen on Oct. 10 over Washington, D.C. Photo: Jonah Bryson

Flashback: Northern Lights light up the sky in May

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to show the storm reached G4 levels (not G5) and to remove a reference to it as being the first recorded in 21 years. It has also been updated with more photos.

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In photos: Northern lights dazzle skies across the U.S. and world

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