This Valentine's Day, skygazers are in for a breathtaking celestial treat as the

northern lights

are set to illuminate the skies over some parts of the US, adding a magical glow to the most romantic night of the year.
The weather conditions could favour a solar

G1 geomagnetic storm

on Thursday evening which may lead to aurora displays by Friday, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center has forecast.
The upcoming

geomagnetic storm

has been rated a 'G1' which is considered the weakest.
The G-scale used by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration rates the storm from G1 to G5. G1 is the weakest storm classification while G5 is the strongest.

US states including Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Alaska could see the northern lights over the coming days if conditions are right, according to NOAA's aurora viewline map.
The auroras may extend to northern Michigan and Maine, depending on the strength of the solar storm.

The

aurora borealis

occurs due to magnetic storms driven by

solar activity

. According to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, energetic charged particles from these storms travel from the sun via solar winds. When this stream of particles reaches Earth's magnetic field, it interacts with atmospheric molecules. As these particles release the energy gained from the collision, they emit light in various colors, creating the stunning aurora display.

The northern lights get their vibrant colors from collisions between electrons and gas particles in Earth's atmosphere. Oxygen produces green at lower altitudes (about 60 miles up) and red at higher altitudes (around 200 miles). Nitrogen creates blue or purplish-red hues, while rare sightings of orange or white can also occur. The exact color depends on the type of gas and the altitude of the collision.

It is best to view the northern lights in hours immediately before and after midnight, according to NOAA. The view would be better if you move away from light pollution. National parks, rural areas, or dark sky reserves are good places to catch the natural phenomenon. The bright light of a full moon will allow for improved viewing conditions, space experts say.
It takes about 20–30 minutes for your eyes to fully adapt to the dark, improving your ability to see the aurora’s colors.
Enjoy the view!