Courtesy photo|Tami Pope

Courtesy photo|Tami Pope

<p>Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights, were seen across Sampson County over the weekend, the product of an unusually strong solar storm hitting Earth. Brilliant purple, green, yellow and pink hues of the Northern Lights were reported worldwide, with sightings in the United States, Canada, Germany, Switzerland and England. The stunning displays of color in the skies across the Northern Hemisphere early Saturday did not prompt any immediate reports of disruptions to power and communications. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a rare severe geomagnetic storm warning when a solar outburst reached Earth on Friday afternoon, hours sooner than anticipated. The effects of the Northern Lights lasted through the weekend. Our readers sent photos in that they captured over the weekend. These are just a few.</p> <p>Courtesy photo|Geoffrey Tart</p>

Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights, were seen across Sampson County over the weekend, the product of an unusually strong solar storm hitting Earth. Brilliant purple, green, yellow and pink hues of the Northern Lights were reported worldwide, with sightings in the United States, Canada, Germany, Switzerland and England. The stunning displays of color in the skies across the Northern Hemisphere early Saturday did not prompt any immediate reports of disruptions to power and communications. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a rare severe geomagnetic storm warning when a solar outburst reached Earth on Friday afternoon, hours sooner than anticipated. The effects of the Northern Lights lasted through the weekend. Our readers sent photos in that they captured over the weekend. These are just a few.

Courtesy photo|Geoffrey Tart
<p>Courtesy photo|Kayla Thompson</p>

Courtesy photo|Kayla Thompson
<p>Courtesy photo|Kelli Lucas</p>

Courtesy photo|Kelli Lucas
<p>Courtesy photo|Kelly Blackburn</p>

Courtesy photo|Kelly Blackburn
<p>Courtesy photo|Rachel Carr Grantham</p>

Courtesy photo|Rachel Carr Grantham
<p>Courtesy photo|Ashley Kornegay</p>

Courtesy photo|Ashley Kornegay
<p>Courtesy photo|Barbara Brewington</p>

Courtesy photo|Barbara Brewington
<p>Courtesy photo|Cathy Watkins Daughtry</p>

Courtesy photo|Cathy Watkins Daughtry
<p>Courtesy photo|Cheri Vann Grimes</p>

Courtesy photo|Cheri Vann Grimes
<p>Courtesy photo|Chloe Byrd</p>

Courtesy photo|Chloe Byrd
<p>Courtesy photo|Adam Watts</p>

Courtesy photo|Adam Watts
<p>Courtesy photo|Amy Irvin</p>

Courtesy photo|Amy Irvin
<p>Courtesy photo|April Piercy</p>

Courtesy photo|April Piercy

Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights, were seen across Sampson County over the weekend, the product of an unusually strong solar storm hitting Earth. Brilliant purple, green, yellow and pink hues of the Northern Lights were reported worldwide, with sightings in the United States, Canada, Germany, Switzerland and England. The stunning displays of color in the skies across the Northern Hemisphere early Saturday did not prompt any immediate reports of disruptions to power and communications. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a rare severe geomagnetic storm warning when a solar outburst reached Earth on Friday afternoon, hours sooner than anticipated. The effects of the Northern Lights lasted through the weekend. Our readers sent photos in that they captured over the weekend. These are just a few.