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Northern lights could be seen in Wisconsin on Thursday

Posted on by Kennedy
Northern lights could be seen in Wisconsin on Thursday

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Sky watchers were able to see the northern lights in Wisconsin this week after an eruption of solar material made its way to Earth. NOAA Space Weather Prediction predicts severe weather Thursday through Friday, with conditions easing by Saturday.

Watches of this level are very rare. According to NOAA, strong geomagnetic storms can impact infrastructure and potentially disrupt communications, power grids, navigation, radio and satellite operations.

Here's what you should know about the Northern Lights forecast and how to see them in Wisconsin.

When could I see the Northern Lights in Wisconsin?

According to NOAA, the Northern Lights could be visible in Wisconsin during the nights of October 10-11 and fade by Saturday.

Under these conditions, the Northern Lights could be seen as far away as Alabama and Northern California.

Sky watchers will see mostly clear skies in the Milwaukee area Thursday evening and mostly cloudy skies Friday evening, according to the National Weather Service.

For the most up-to-date forecasts, you can monitor NOAA's Aurora forecast tool, where you can see the forecast 35 minutes ahead and get the latest weather forecast via the National Weather Service.

What is the science behind the Northern Lights?

Northern lights, also called aurora borealis, are caused by solar activity, according to NOAA.

When particles from a coronal mass ejection arrive on Earth, they interact with the planet's magnetic field and cause the northern lights to appear in the sky. Oxygen emits green and red light, while nitrogen glows blue and violet.

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

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:

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