Solar eruptions this week could trigger geomagnetic storms on Earth and make the aurora borealis, also called the northern lights, visible in multiple U.S. states.

Ejected solar material is expected to arrive in Earth’s atmosphere sometime Tuesday, while the second set of material is expected to happen sometime Wednesday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center said in a release Monday.

The SWPC said the effects of the solar material in Earth’s atmosphere could make the aurora effects visible from northern Maine to the upper Midwest. Other northern states and parts of the lower Midwest and Oregon could also end up seeing the aurora in the sky.

The material was released from the sun during eruptions on Sunday, with the leading edge of the material reaching Earth at around 11 a.m. Eastern time Tuesday, the SWPC said in a subsequent release.

Three notable solar flares occurred Sunday, according to a post on X by the NASA Sun & Space account.

When solar material reaches the atmosphere, it reacts with gases and releases energy particles visible as the aurora borealis.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.