Northern lights can be seen in the Chicago area tonight due to a severe solar storm that could strain power grids

CHICAGO (WLS) – People in the Chicago area should keep an eye on the skies Thursday evening.

The Northern Lights are visible in the area.

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A video from Richmond in far northern Illinois showed the celestial spectacle.

ABC7 also received additional videos and photos from viewers throughout the Chicago area showing the Northern Lights.

The phenomenon is caused by a severe solar storm that could place even greater strain on power grids as the U.S. grapples with back-to-back major hurricanes, space weather forecasters said Wednesday.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a severe geomagnetic storm warning for Thursday through Friday after a solar flare was detected earlier this week. Such a storm could temporarily disrupt power and radio signals.

The storm could also trigger northern lights in the southern United States, the lower Midwest and northern California, according to NOAA, but exact locations and times are uncertain. Sky watchers are reminded to point their smartphones upward for photos; The devices can often capture northern lights that the human eye cannot.

The May solar storm produced dazzling auroras across the Northern Hemisphere and caused no major disruption. The Sun is nearing the peak of its current 11-year cycle, triggering all current solar activity.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.