MICHIGAN, USA — If you haven’t been able to catch the northern lights this year, another opportunity will be possible across West Michigan’s skies Thursday night.
The Space Weather Prediction Center, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is indicating a G4 (severe) geomagnetic storm Thursday night, which will allow a greater chance for aurora formation. In turn, the Kp value is forecast to be an 8 for several hours, starting Wednesday evening and lasting in the early hours of Thursday.
This scenario – the "severe" geomagnetic storm and high Kp value – typically produces the northern lights across the entire state, and potentially allows them to be vibrant across West Michigan.
The northern lights may be viewable again Friday night, but there is less confidence in the strength of the geomagnetic storm and resultant vibrancy.
This map below, from the Space Weather Prediction Center, shows how the Kp and G index correlate to how far south the northern lights could be visible.
Auroras are known for their green, red and purple hues in the night sky. They are created from coronal mass ejections or an eruption of solar material from the sun that travels to Earth's atmosphere. A burst of color is possible anytime throughout the nighttime hours, and the aurora can appear and disappear – also known as "bursts" – quickly and happen multiple times throughout the night.
FORECAST
Ideal viewing conditions are expected for the viewing of the northern lights as clear skies will be commonplace throughout Thursday night.
Thursday Night
Clear and milder. Low 46°. S winds ↑ 5-10 mph.
Northern lights dance with meteors
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