WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) – Solar storms may bring colorful night skies or aurora borealis across Wisconsin and other Upper Midwest states Thursday evening. A large burst of energy, called a coronal mass ejection (CME), is currently on its way to Earth, prompting space weather researchers to issue a strong geomagnetic storm warning that would make the northern lights visible from Thursday night into early Friday morning.
How bright the northern lights are and how far south they are visible depends on when the solar flare arrives here and how it interacts with Earth. According to Shawn Dahl, a space weather forecaster with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, it's possible that if the timing is right, auroras could occur overnight.
However, a warm front moving across Wisconsin will produce clouds and light showers throughout Thursday evening, initially making visibility of the Northern Lights difficult, but cloud cover should slowly decrease during the early hours early Friday morning.
Auroras could be visible – especially in darker, rural areas – in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and northern parts of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.
Wednesday's full Beaver supermoon is still very close to Earth and is 97% illuminated, which could also make it harder to spot auroras. But similar to Wednesday night, the northern lights could be strong enough to overcome the light pollution caused by the near-full moon phase at that time. Depending on solar activity, the Northern Lights could also be visible on Friday evening
How the Northern Lights are created
The Sun is in the maximum phase of its 11-year activity cycle, making the light displays more frequent and widespread. Colorful northern lights have graced the night sky in unexpected places, and space weather experts say there are more northern lights to come.
Auroral phenomena, known as the northern and southern lights, are often visible near the poles, where charged particles from the sun interact with the Earth's atmosphere.
Sky watchers are spotting the lights deeper across the United States and Europe as the sun undergoes a major makeover. Every 11 years its poles swap places, causing magnetic twists and tangles along the way. The Sun's burst of activity is expected to last at least until the end of this year. However, according to NASA and NOAA, it will only become clear months later when solar activity will reach its peak.
The strongest severe magnetic storms can disrupt radio and GPS communications, particularly in locations in northern latitudes.
How solar storms affect Earth
Solar storms can bring more than just colorful lights to Earth. When fast-moving particles and plasma impact the Earth's magnetic field, they can temporarily disrupt the power grid. Space weather can also affect radio and air traffic control satellites in orbit.
In 1859, a severe solar storm triggered auroras as far away as Hawaii and, in a rare event, set telegraph lines on fire. And a solar storm in 1972 may have detonated US magnetic sea mines off the coast of Vietnam.
Space weather experts are unable to predict a solar storm months in advance. Instead, they warn relevant parties to prepare for Earth in the days leading up to a solar eruption.
How to see northern lights
For aurora forecasts, visit NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center website or an auroral forecasting app.
Consider observing the Northern Lights in very dark areas, away from city lights and other artificial light sources. Experts recommend observing the sky from a local or national park location. And check the weather forecast as clouds can completely obscure the spectacle.
If you take photos with a smartphone camera, you may also be able to see evidence of the northern lights that are not visible to the naked eye.
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Weather forecast for Thursday evening
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