If you looked up at the night sky on Tuesday, November 11, and saw unusual green, pink, or purple lights shimmering across the horizon, you weren’t imagining things. The aurora borealis—better known as the northern lights—made a rare and dazzling appearance over southeastern Utah, visible from Moab and across Grand County.
As word spread through town, a steady line of cars wound up Sand Flats Road late into the evening, as locals and visitors alike sought higher ground for a better view. Drivers pulled off at overlooks, headlights dimmed, as the sky pulsed faintly green and rose over the desert horizon.
The display was caused by a strong geomagnetic storm triggered by a coronal mass ejection from the sun. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center, the storm reached G4 (severe) levels overnight. These conditions allowed the auroral oval to expand unusually far south, making sightings possible across much of the continental United States.
The lights were visible from Moab and across Grand County. Across Utah, residents shared photos and videos of the spectacle from Salt Lake City to Zion National Park.
This week’s display was the first major aurora visible from Utah since a powerful G5 (extreme) storm in May 2024, which lit up skies across the state. With the sun nearing the peak of its 11-year solar cycle—expected in 2025 or 2026—scientists say more geomagnetic activity and auroral visibility may occur in the months ahead.
For those hoping to catch the next light show, NOAA’s 30-minute aurora forecast and SpaceWeather.com offer real-time updates on geomagnetic activity.
Even in the desert, Utahns are part of the same cosmic forces that create the aurora’s glow. It’s a reminder to keep an eye on the night sky—especially as solar activity ramps up in the coming year.
Did you capture photos or video of Tuesday’s aurora? Send them to over to us here or tag us on social media. Reader images may appear in an upcoming gallery.
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