Northern lights could be on display across several states this week. Here's how and when to look up

WASHINGTON — The northern lights will light up the night sky early this week in the northern half of the continental U.S.

Forecasters issued a severe G4 geomagnetic storm watch for Tuesday, Nov. 11 and Wednesday, Nov. 12. The alert comes after a coronal mass ejection, an eruption of solar material and magnetic fields from the Sun's surface, was set to hit Earth late Tuesday into Wednesday. Coronal mass ejections, known as CMEs, usually generate spectacular displays of aurora borealis in northern U.S. states.

G4-level watches are rare, with only four alerts issued so far this solar cycle, NOAA says.

According to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, the geomagnetic activity could impact infrastructure technology and will be "visible over much of the northern half of the country."