Northern Lights Possible Over MI Tuesday, Wednesday: What To Know

Michiganders across the state will have a chance to see the northern lights Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

NOAA expects a G3 geomagnetic storm, which is a large expulsion of plasma and magnetic field from the sun’s atmosphere. When those particles collide with the Earth’s atmosphere, they create the northern lights, or aurora borealis.

They believe the storm will produce a Kp index of 7 Tuesday night. Space forecasters use the Kp index to determine the intensity of the storm. It is judged on a grading scale from zero to 9. An index of 5 or greater typically means the northern lights may be visible across Michigan.

Tuesday night's viewing line extends down to the Ohio border, but of course that's dependent on weather. The National Weather Service calls for scattered snow showers across most of Michigan, including the metro Detroit area, overnight. The snow will then shift into rain during the early morning hours Wednesday, the weather service says.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Space forecasters also predict a geomagnetic storm on Wednesday. Forecasters still expect cloudy skies across most of Michigan though Wednesday.

Nonetheless, space forecasters encourage aurora hunters to get as far away from city lights as possible and scan the northern horizon. Even if you don’t see anything, take a photo of the northern sky with your cellphone camera. The devices are better than the human eye in picking up northern lights.