The northern lights celestial show may unfold in the sky over Massachusetts Monday night as a powerful solar storm arrives on Earth. Clouds will be a big factor in seeing it though.

NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center says a "cannibal" coronal mass ejection, when one burst of charged solar particles overtakes another, is set to slam into Earth's magnetic field late Monday into Tuesday. That's expected to trigger a geomagnetic storm strong enough to push the northern lights far south of their usual range.

The storm could reach G3, or strong, levels which means auroras might be visible well beyond Canada and northern New England.

This forecast map shows the viewing line dipping into parts of the Midwest and Northeast, including Massachusetts.

WBZ-TV graphic CBS Boston

In Mass

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