Possible Northern Lights Sighting in Connecticut

March 18 Update:

• View of the Northern Lights From Newtown
• Northern Lights Captured by Simsbury Camera Club Member

Did you take pictures of the Northern Lights? Send them to jaimie.cura@patch.com for the photo gallery we’re putting together!

Original Post:

A geomagnetic storm is the reason why the Northern Lights show up in lower latitudes than normal and Connecticut residents may get to see the lights tonight, Tuesday, March 17.

Meteorologist Ryan Hanrahan posted on Facebook and said:

“It’s not out of the question that parts of Connecticut could see the Northern Lights tonight. A severe geomagnetic storm is producing Auroras at unusually low latitudes - let’s hope it holds through the night!

According to WXedge’s Kevin Arnone, solar flares cause the aurora borealis and one such flare occurred on Monday.

“If you want to look for the lights, go to a dark sky and look north,” Arnone wrote on the WXedge website. “The time frame is just after dark and possibly through the night. Sunset this evening is at 7 p.m. Be patient, the lights often ‘dance’ in the sky and appear and reappear!”

If you do go outside to look for the Northern Lights this evening, be sure to bundle up! Temperatures will be in the low-20s and some towns are under wind advisories.

If you have luck taking pictures of the March 17 Northern Lights, send them our way at jaimie.cura@patch.com. Happy sky-gazing!

Photos by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region and by FairbanksMike