ST. LOUIS—An intense solar storm had the northern lights giving people in Missouri and Illinois a rare show Sunday night. The lights are visible further south than usual due to the strength of the storm.

Viewers shared photos from rural areas where there was less light pollution, creating a better viewing experience. 

A blast of superhot material from the sun late last week hurled scorching gases known as plasma toward Earth at nearly 2 million, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Monday.

Earth felt the brunt of the storm Sunday, according to NOAA, with forecasters warning operators of power plants and spacecraft of the potential for disruption.

The farther north, the better the show as the energized particles interact with the atmosphere closer to Earth, according to Murtagh. The farther south, the curvature of the Earth cuts off the most dazzling scenes as the particles interact higher in the atmosphere.

Although conditions have eased, auroras might still be visible as far south as South Dakota and Iowa late Monday and early Tuesday if skies are dark.

There is a chance you may see the lights in northern Missouri, but there is expected to be more cloud cover Monday night than Sunday.

This was the third severe geomagnetic storm since the current 11-year solar cycle began in 2019, according to NOAA. The agency expects the cycle to peak in 2024.