Map shows northern lights likely across Michigan Friday night amid geomagnetic storm
(CBS DETROIT) - Residents across Michigan, even Metro Detroit, could see the Northern Lights Friday night due to a geomagnetic storm. Scientists are saying that it will likely be a strong one, too.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Space and Weather Prediction Center issued a G4 geomagnetic storm watch through Saturday, May 11, with the best chance of seeing the aurora borealis in Michigan Friday night. G4s are the second-strongest form of geomagnetic storms, and this is the first time a watch has been issued for a G4 since 2005.
During this geomagnetic storm, the Northern Lights could be seen in several northern states, some of the Midwest, and parts of Oregon and mid-Idaho. All of Michigan is in the viewing area to see the lights.
Aurora borealis comes from solar wind from the sun. Even when these winds are calm, there are auroras at some places on Earth, but they may be obstructed by clouds or sunlight. Strong solar storms can impact life in space, but also on Earth. GPS and communications satellites, and even the power grid can be interrupted.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said there have only been three severe geomagnetic storms observed during this solar cycle, which began in December 2019. The last G4 storm was observed in March this year, and a G5 (or extreme) storm was last seen around Halloween in 2003. The latter storm led to power outages in Sweden and damaged transformers in South Africa.
Tips for viewing the Northern Lights
Here's a list of tips from the Space and Weather Prediction Center to maximize your chances of seeing the Northern Lights:
- View the lights at night and away from city lights. It must be dark to see the Northern Lights.
- Go north and toward the magnetic poles. "Given the right vantage point, say, for example, on top of a hill in the northern hemisphere with an unobstructed view toward the north, a person can see aurora even when it is 1000 km (600 miles) further north," according to the prediction center.
- Try to view the Northern Lights after sunset or before sunrise when it is dark outside.