Northern lights put on a rare SoCal show

A geomagnetic storm brought the spectacle to many parts of the continental U.S.

- BY CLARA HARTER

JACLYN COSGROVE Los Angeles Times

THE SKY over Angeles National Forest turned a vivid pink and purple on Tuesday night to create a spectacle.

Triggered by an intense geomagnetic storm, the northern lights made a rare visit to the Southland on Tuesday night, painting the skies above the Angeles National Forest in dazzling pink and purple hues.

Although the aurora borealis is typically confined to the northern polar region, Tuesday's light show could be seen in many parts of the continental United States as a burst of solar energy collided with Earth's magnetic field, sending supercharged particles cascading through the atmosphere.