Northern lights could be over much of Michigan this weekend

The beauty and wonder of the Northern Lights are set to grace the skies over much of Michigan this weekend, offering a rare and breathtaking sight for those lucky enough to witness it. This natural phenomenon, also known as the Aurora Borealis, is caused by solar particles colliding with gases in Earth's atmosphere, creating stunning displays of colorful lights dancing across the night sky.

For many Michiganders, this weekend presents a unique opportunity to experience the magic of the Northern Lights without having to travel far from home. Whether you choose to venture out into the wilderness or simply gaze up at the sky from your backyard, the chance to see this celestial spectacle is not one to be missed.

The center, which is a division of the National Weather Service, observed conditions of an extreme geomagnetic storm at 6:54 p.m. ET on Friday evening, reaching a level 5 out of 5 severity. The last time a solar storm of this magnitude reached Earth was in October 2003, resulting in power outages in Sweden and damaged power transformers in South Africa, according to the center.

Signs of a severe geomagnetic storm, or level 4, were first observed by scientists at the center at 12:37 p.m. ET, when a major disturbance was detected in Earth’s magnetic field. Previously, the center issued a geomagnetic storm watch on Thursday evening, the first such watch issued since January 2005.

But the forecast was upgraded after scientists observed G5, or extreme geomagnetic storm, conditions Friday evening.

"If it's strong enough, and if your skies are dark enough and your night vision is good enough, you might actually be able to see this right outside your back door or front door. Look to the north," she said.

This weekend's atmospheric spectacle is forecast to be widespread — potentially visible as far south as California — because of a severe geomagnetic storm. That's accompanied by a warning about intense activity in Earth's magnetic field that could affect satellites and power grids. For the best aurora viewing experience, find clear skies, and look to the north.

The storms also affect flight patterns of commercial airlines, which are instructed to stay away from Earth’s poles during geomagnetic storms due to loss of communication or navigation capabilities.

Extreme storms have occurred before, such as one that knocked out the power grid in Quebec in 1989 and the Carrington Event of 1859.The latter remains the most intense geomagnetic storm ever recorded, causing telegraph stations to spark and catch fire.

If such an event were to occur today, it could cause trillions of dollars’ worth of damage and bring down some power grids for a substantial amount of time.

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Sarah H

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