The northern lights may be visible in Wisconsin this week. Here’s when and where you may see them
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The northern lights may be visible in Wisconsin this week. Here’s when and where you may see them
Wisconsin is one of 14 states that will have a chance to see the northern lights this week. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has issued a geomagnetic storm watch for June 25 and 26. It could be rainy over the next few days, which could complicate seeing the lights. The SWPC says the lights are typically best “within an hour or two” of midnight.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has issued a geomagnetic storm watch for June 25 and 26. The lights may be visible throughout the state on June 24 and 25, according to the NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center.
Both forecasts have a Kp index of five. For indexes in this range, lights will likely be “brighter and there will be more auroral activity” — if they make an appearance — since they’re moving further from the poles, according to the SWPC.
The SWPC also has an aurora forecast tool, which provides a short-term forecast. The forecaster shows the lights’ location and intensity for the next 30 to 90 minutes.
What will the weather be like in Wisconsin this week?
It could be rainy over the next few days, which could complicate seeing the lights. High temperatures across the Badger State are set to be replaced with storms that could last until Thursday.
Forecasts show chances of showers and thunderstorms over the next two days in Green Bay, Appleton, Milwaukee and Madison.
What are tips for watching the northern lights?
The SWPC says the lights are typically best “within an hour or two” of midnight, meaning you should keep an eye out between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.
You should also head away from city lights and seek high vantage points for a better chance of seeing them. You can find a full list of tips on the SWPC’s website.
What are the best places in Wisconsin to watch the northern lights?
Here’s a list of spots across Wisconsin that offer some of the best views of the night sky:
Aurora borealis may be seen in Wisconsin on May 17 and 18. Here’s what to know
The northern lights could be seen as far south as central Wisconsin on May 17. The entire state has a chance of catching them on May 18. The weather may not cooperate, with partly cloudy night skies in many cities. The SWPC says the lights are typically best “within an hour or two” of midnight, meaning you should keep an eye out between 10 p.m and 2 a.m.
The SWPC’s aurora forecast indicates the lights could be seen as far south as central Wisconsin on May 17. The entire state has a chance of catching them on May 18.
The aurora forecast for May 17 has a Kp index of four while May 18 has a Kp index of five. For indexes in this range, the lights will likely be “brighter and there will be more auroral activity” since they’re moving further from the poles, according to the SWPC.
The SWPC also has an aurora forecast tool, which provides a short-term forecast. The forecaster shows the lights’ location and intensity for the next 30 to 90 minutes.
What will the weather be like in Wisconsin?
Even though there’s a chance for Wisconsinites to see the lights on May 17, the weather may not cooperate.
National Weather Service forecasts for cities around the Badger State show the night sky in many cities — including Appleton, Green Bay, Wausau, Madison and Fond du Lac — will be mostly cloudy.
On May 18, the NWS predicts partly cloudy night skies for Appleton, Green Bay, Wausau, Fond du Lac, Madison, Milwaukee, Kenosha and Racine.
What are tips for watching the northern lights?
The SWPC says the lights are typically best “within an hour or two” of midnight, meaning you should keep an eye out between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.
You should also head away from city lights and seek high vantage points for a better chance of seeing them.
What are the best places in Wisconsin to watch the northern lights?
Here’s a list of spots across Wisconsin that offer some of the best views of the night sky in the state: