You might be able to see the northern lights in Wisconsin heading into the weekend, according to the NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center.
The SWPC’s forecast indicates the lights will likely only be visible in the northern region of the state Thursday, but the entire Badger State has a chance of catching the phenomena Friday.
Thursday’s aurora forecast has a Kp index of three while Friday’s has a Kp index of five. For indexes in this range, the lights will likely “become 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 location and intensity of the northern lights for the next 30 to 90 minutes.
What will the weather be like?
Despite the likelihood of the lights, the weather may not cooperate in portions of the state Friday.
The Green Bay area is expected to be partly cloudy Thursday night and cloudy with a chance of showers Friday night, according to the National Weather Service Green Bay office. Similar conditions are expected in Appleton, Fond du Lac and Eau Claire.
Showers are forecast for the southern portion of the state Friday night, including in Milwaukee and Kenosha, so the lights may not be visible.
What are tips for watching the northern lights?
The SWPC says northern lights are typically best “within an hour or two” of midnight, meaning you should look for them between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.
You should also head away from city lights and go to higher 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 could offer some of the best views of the northern lights:
- Newport State Park, Ellison Bay
- Driftless Region, Wisconsin
- Harrington Beach State Park, Belgium
- Kettle Moraine State Forest, Eagle
- Parnell Tower, Plymouth
