Northern lights could be on display across several states Monday night. Here's where.

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

Forecasters have issued a strong (G3) geomagnetic storm watch for Tuesday, Dec. 9. That's because a strong solar flare led to a burst of solar energy known as a coronal mass ejection (CME). That energy is traveling fast through space and is expected to arrive at Earth on Monday night and Tuesday. When this energy hits Earth, it causes disruptions in the magnetic field and leads to the aurora borealis.

Last month, the following a severe G4 geomagnetic storm watch. G4-level watches are rare, with only four alerts issued so far this solar cycle, NOAA said.

, this time around, the aurora may become visible on Monday night over many of the northern states and some of the lower Midwest to