The Aurora Borealis appeared over The Wiregrass Tuesday night, with photos from Ashley and Brandi Andrews showing the lights above Kinsey, Ala. The display followed elevated coronal mass ejections as the sun nears the peak of its roughly 11‑year cycle. When solar particles strike atoms in Earth’s atmosphere they produce the colors; strong geomagnetic storms can push visibility far from the poles. Viewers were advised to seek dark locations and use smartphone cameras or long exposures to better capture the event.
Northern Lights Illuminate The Wiregrass: Aurora Borealis Captured Over Kinsey, Ala.
The Aurora Borealis appeared over The Wiregrass Tuesday night, with photos from Ashley and Brandi Andrews showing the lights above Kinsey, Ala. The display followed elevated coronal mass ejections as the sun nears the peak of its roughly 11‑year cycle. When solar particles strike atoms in Earth’s atmosphere they produce the colors; strong geomagnetic storms can push visibility far from the poles. Viewers were advised to seek dark locations and use smartphone cameras or long exposures to better capture the event.
03:22 AM, 11/13/2025Science
Northern lights dazzle southern Alabama skies
DOTHAN, Ala. — A rare display of the Aurora Borealis lit up The Wiregrass Tuesday night, with glowing bands and curtains of green and red captured over Kinsey.
Photographs and credit: Ashley and Brandi Andrews shared images with WDHN showing the colorful display drifting across southern Alabama.
What caused the display
Auroras form when coronal mass ejections (CMEs) — large bursts of charged particles from the sun — travel toward Earth. When those energetic particles collide with atoms in our atmosphere, they excite the atoms and produce visible light.
Officials said solar activity was elevated Tuesday and Wednesday as the sun remains near the peak of its roughly 11-year cycle. Stronger CMEs and associated geomagnetic storms can push auroral visibility much farther from the polar regions than usual.
Visibility and viewing tips
The northern lights are typically seen near the poles, but intense geomagnetic storms can make them visible at lower latitudes. Forecasters noted that chances of seeing the aurora were lower Wednesday night than Tuesday, though the lights could still appear if solar activity exceeded predictions.
Best viewing is from a dark location with minimal artificial light. Observers often find that smartphone and cellphone cameras record auroras more vividly than the naked eye.
Photography tips: Turn off flash, use a tripod or stable surface, set a long exposure if possible, and experiment with higher ISO settings to capture the colors more clearly. Even without specialized gear, many modern phones will pick up the glow better than you can see it unaided.
Reported by WDHN; explanation of aurora science referenced from the Associated Press. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc.