Space forecasters say severe solar storms could hit Earth and trigger auroras

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

NOAA issues alert for potential severe geomagnetic storms

Northern lights could be visible as far south as Alabama

Solar activity near its 11-year peak phase

Strong storms may disrupt power, radio, and GPS systems

Space weather forecasters issued an alert on Tuesday for incoming severe solar storms that could produce colorful northern lights and temporarily disrupt communications.

In the past few days, the sun has burped out several bursts of energy called coronal mass ejections that could reach Earth Tuesday night and early Wednesday. The potential severe geomagnetic storms could disrupt radio and GPS communications, according to forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

How bright the auroras are and how far south they are visible wil