Green and James Caldwellreddish auroras danced across Thursday's night sky throughout the United States as a powerful solar storm unleashed the northern lights far and wide.

Americans from the northern U.S. and even as far south as Alabama had a chance to witness the striking rays, spirals and flickers, which was amplified when a solar coronal mass ejection of plasma clouds and charged particles drove a geomagnetic storm toward Earth. The storm was so strong that it prompted the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to issue a rare G4 geomagnetic storm watch for the second time this year.

Because of the way the solar particles interact with Earth's magnetosphere, the powerful eruption made the auroras visible and active even further toward the equator than usual.

Photographs from across the U.S. captured the dazzling display.

And if you happened to miss it, not to fear: There will be far more opportunities to catch the northern lights soon as the sun continues to reach the height of its 11-year solar cycle.

Peak northern lights activity:What to know about auroras as sun reaches solar maximum

See photos of northern lights

Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected]