The same solar region that brought an outburst of night-time beauty in early May is coming back around. But things have changed, a space weather expert tells NPR.

A solar storm caused the aurora borealis phenomenon to be visible in the sky across much of the United States this weekend. From Appling to Bainbridge and Skidaway Island to Toccoa, people across the state shared their images with swirls of deep violets, greens and pinks that glowed around midnight Friday and again Saturday night. Possible sightings could continue this week.

Scientists have updated their forecast for the current solar cycle, which usually lasts about 11 years. Solar activity is now expected to peak earlier and to be stronger than previously thought.

A previous forecast predicted a geomagnetic storm happening Wednesday and Thursday, but the sun's activity has greatly weakened over the past few days.

An article suggests the natural light show starts when disturbances on the sun pull on Earth's magnetic field, creating cosmic waves that launch electrons into the atmosphere to form the aurora.