Northern lights delight several Minnesota, western Wisconsin communities

— Many Minnesotans were treated to a magnificent showcase of the northern lights on Sunday and overnight Monday.

A geomagnetic storm watch was issued over the weekend by the Space Weather Prediction Center , with communities across the northern U.S. — from Oregon to Pennsylvania, and as far south as Iowa — able to enjoy captivating auroras.

The prediction center classified this weekend's storm as " moderate ," causing only a slight risk for power fluctuations and spacecraft operations.

Coming off the fall equinox, this is one of the best times of year to see auroras in the Northern Hemisphere.

According to NASA, auroras are produced by the collision of electrically charged ps with the Earth's magnetic field, resulting in shimmering waves of blue, green, red and white light.

While some Twin Cities residents caught a glimpse despite light pollution, the very best spot to marvel at this magical phenomenon in Minnesota is in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness — the largest of the 13 designated International Dark Sky Sanctuaries in the world.