Strong solar storm hits...

An unusually strong solar storm hitting Earth could produce northern lights in the U.S. this weekend and potentially disrupt power and communications.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a rare severe geomagnetic storm warning when a solar outburst reached Earth in the afternoon of May 10, hours sooner than anticipated. The effects were due to last through the weekend and possibly into next week.

In Pictures | Northern Lights: sightings across Europe

Northern lights appear over the Dreisamtal valley in the Black Forest near Freiburg, Germany.

Northern lights are seen over the lake near Szczytno, Poland.

Northern lights glow in the night sky above the village of Daillens, Switzerland.

Northern lights shine over Portsmouth.

The Northern Lights appear in the night sky over East Brandenburg.

People watch the aurora borealis, northern lights, light up the sky over the ocean off Gloucester, Massachusetts, U.S.

Northern lights or aurora borealis during a solar storm over the National Monument of Scotland in Edinburgh

Northern lights or aurora borealis illuminate the night sky near London, Ontario, during a geomagnetic storm

The northern lights glow in the sky over St. Croix State Forest near Markville, Minnesota.

The crescent moon sets below the northern lights near Skidmore, New York.

Northern lights glow in the sky near Kroschel, Minnesota.

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