Northern Lights Possible In MI Thursday: Will We See Them?

MICHIGAN — While it's common to see the northern lights, or aurora borealis, in the Upper Peninsula, it's rare to see them in the state's lower peninsula.

Forecasters expect the solar storm to peak Thursday, giving Michiganders a minor chance to see the colorful array over northern Michigan. Scientists believe the best time to see the colors will be between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.

Of course, that all depends on weather. Forecasters expect widespread rain showers to blanket most of the state Wednesday into Thursday morning. The rain showers should fizzle away during the afternoon hours, opening up skies in northern Michigan to see the natural phenomenon.

The Geophysical Institute forecasts the Kp index — the measure of auroral strength — will be around 4 on a 9-point scale next Thursday. In general, the chances of seeing the northern lights are best with a Kp index of at least 5.

Scientists said if the solar storm is stronger than expected, the lights could make their way farther south, possibly into the metro Detroit region. However, forecasters expect rain showers and thunderstorms to linger into Thursday night, making any chance to see them difficult.

Other states that could also see the northern lights Thursday include Alaska, Washington, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Maine, New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maryland, Massachusetts and Indiana, according to the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska at Fairbanks.