The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a geomagnetic storm watch for March 19, 2026, due to an anticipated coronal mass ejection (CME). This event may bring the northern lights as far south as Illinois. Geomagnetic storms are classified on a scale from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme), and there is a possibility that the storm could reach G3 levels, potentially extending aurora visibility into mid-latitudes such as Illinois and Oregon. The CME responsible for this forecast was launched from the sun on March 16 during an M2.7 solar flare eruption.