Northern lights could be seen in the upper reaches of the US on New Year's Eve – Las Vegas Sun News

NEW YORK (AP) — There's a chance solar storms could bring northern lights to several northern U.S. states just in time for the New Year.

According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the sun ejected a burst of plasma on Sunday that is hurtling toward Earth and is expected to arrive sometime on Monday.

Once it arrives, it may trigger colorful auroras on Monday and Tuesday nights in Washington, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. Parts of Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Iowa and New York could also enjoy some of the views.

The early hours of Tuesday, when it's still dark, will have the best chance of seeing a light show, said NOAA space weather forecaster Shawn Dahl.

To watch the spectacle, wait until the clear sky turns dark and then head outside, ideally away from the bright city lights. If you take photos with a smartphone camera, you may also be able to see evidence of the northern lights that are not visible to the naked eye.

The sun is in the maximum phase of its 11-year cycle, making solar bursts and northern lights more common.

The active period is expected to last at least another year, although scientists won't know when solar activity peaked until months later.

NOAA is monitoring this week's solar storms for possible minor disruptions to high-frequency radio communications used by airlines and amateur radio operators.

In May, NOAA issued a rare severe geomagnetic storm warning – it was the strongest storm in more than two decades and produced flashes of light across the Northern Hemisphere. And in October, a powerful solar storm dazzled sky watchers far from the Arctic Circle as auroras appeared in unexpected places, including Germany, the United Kingdom, New England and New York City.

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