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According to the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, some lucky Wisconsin residents could see the Northern Lights on Thursday and Friday evening.

According to the Space Weather Prediction Center, the Northern Lights could be visible in some areas of the US, including parts of Wisconsin, after two coronal mass ejections were observed on Tuesday, including the massive X7.1 solar flare.

The center issued geomagnetic storm warnings for the rest of the week and predicted that the northern lights will be visible in the night sky.

In May, a powerful geomagnetic storm sparked spectacular views of the Northern Lights in areas of the U.S. where the Northern Lights are rarely visible, including here in Milwaukee. As the Sun approaches the peak of its 11-year cycle in 2025, people around the world can expect more frequent and brighter Northern Lights activity due to increased electromagnetic activity.

Where can I see the Northern Lights in Wisconsin?

According to NOAA, the Northern Lights could be visible in northern Wisconsin and perhaps even southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois Thursday evening and into the weekend.

According to the Space Weather Prediction Center, the Northern Lights are expected to be visible in several northern U.S. states on Thursday evening, Friday evening and Saturday evening.

According to the center, sightings are predicted along the U.S.-Canada border but also south from Oregon to Pennsylvania. The best time to view the Northern Lights is Friday from around midnight until the early hours of Saturday morning.

Outside variables such as the weather and the precise trajectory of the solar flare, which can change during its 93 million mile journey to Earth, could affect the reliability of the forecast.

To monitor the aurora forecast, you can use NOAA's aurora forecast tool, which has a 30-minute forecast window. There is also a tool on the Milwaukee Astronomical Society website at milwaukeeastro.org.

On the tool you can see the Northern Lights forecast for 35 minutes in advance. If the color over Wisconsin is yellow, orange or even red, there's a good chance you'll see the Northern Lights.

What causes the Northern Lights?

The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, are a natural light display in the Earth's sky that are known to be best seen in high latitude regions of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

The phenomenon occurs when electrically charged particles from space enter Earth's atmosphere and collide with molecules and gases such as oxygen and nitrogen, causing the atmospheric particles to gain energy. To return to their normal state, the particles release this energy in the form of light, according to the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska at Fairbanks website, which tracks the phenomenon.

As auroras form, the Earth's magnetic field redirects the particles toward the poles through a process that creates a breathtaking display of rays, spirals and flickers that has fascinated humans for millennia. Whether greens, reds, blues and pinks dance in the sky depends on the altitude at which the collisions occur, as well as the composition and density of the atmosphere at that time.

When the Northern Lights are active, the best time to see them is between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m

The Best Places in Wisconsin to See the Northern Lights

Here is a list of places in Wisconsin that might offer some of the best views of the night sky:

Journal Sentinel reporter Alex Groth contributed to this report.

On By John Fenwick

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