Northern Lights Forecast: Will Michigan Witness Them Tonight?
The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center says auroral displays could reach Michigan on Wednesday night, March 18. Meteorologists warn clouds, snow and freezing rain may block views across much of the state.
Forecast details
NOAA classified the event as a G2 geomagnetic storm. The agency expected a Kp index near 6 on Tuesday night.
The Kp scale runs from 0 to 9. Values of 5 or higher often allow aurora to be seen across Michigan. NOAA described the impacts as minor.
Where the aurora might be seen
The SWPC dashboard showed a southern view line covering parts of 17 states. Michigan was included in the area of potential visibility.
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Maine
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New York
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- South Dakota
- Vermont
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Local conditions may limit viewing
Local National Weather Service offices forecast cloudy skies for much of Michigan. Snow and pockets of freezing rain were also expected in some areas.
Experts recommend a dark, open location and clear skies for the best view. Those eager to witness them tonight should monitor local forecasts.
How auroras form and their colors
Auroras appear when charged solar particles hit Earth’s upper atmosphere. Collisions with oxygen and nitrogen create visible light.
Oxygen typically produces greenish-yellow or red hues. Nitrogen usually emits blue tones. Special instruments detect ultraviolet emissions from these molecules.
The sun’s corona
The corona is the sun’s outer atmosphere. It extends thousands of kilometers above the visible surface, and it contains extremely hot plasma.
Temperatures in the corona range from about 1 million Kelvin to over 10 million Kelvin, according to the National Solar Observatory.
Tips for seeing or photographing the aurora
If naked-eye viewing is difficult, try your phone camera in night mode. Hold the phone steady to increase the chance of capturing faint light.
Follow updates from NOAA and the SWPC. Filmogaz.com will post any major changes to the Northern Lights forecast for the region.
