That caused the Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, to make a rare appearance in skies across the US.
The colorful lights were seen as far south as Arizona, much further than what was forecast.
They normally occur in the Arctic, but powerful eruptions on the sun caused them to stretch as far south as Phoenix, Arizona before sunrise on Friday, according to images shared by photographers and skywatchers on social media.
"Most people when they're seeing that far south... they're seeing it on the horizon," Young said.
NWS La CrosseAnchorage, AlaskaAuroras in Anchorage, Alaska, on March 24, 2023.