For most people, seeing the Northern Lights is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. To see the northern lights in person is otherworldly, transfixing those who witness it, especially for the first time. Before you break out a parka for weekend snow, break out your bucket list: The northern lights may be visible in northern Illinois, saving weather enthusiasts the trouble of a trip to Canada or Alaska. This time of year, it’s not just the stars that are shining bright. "The lights … The Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, is a magical natural phenomenon of dazzling colorful lights that seem to dance across the sky. “It’s certainly worth watching here because it’s got a lot of moisture in it,” Birk said. https://www.visittheusa.com/experience/5-places-see-northern-lights-usa It is more likely you will see the northern lights the farther north you go. The Northern Lights could potentially be spotted in some states from Maine to Montana and Washington, according to the website. Every eleven years or so it beats, and it beats hard. “And nobody is perfect on these sorts of predictions. It’s difficult to pinpoint more than that. Mother Nature reminds us it’s Chicago. But not all of them. But areas to the north or northwest might end up with a snowstorm,” he said. According to the National Weather Service, a strong geometric storm will likely bring the Northern Lights further south than typical Wednesday night, possibly to the tip of Illinois and Indiana. Maybe, that is, if you look closely and aren't in the city. Regardless, the … Share '12 Must-See Light Displays in Illinois' This time of year, it’s not just the stars that are shining bright. With that being said, I think we would need a stronger solar storm generated by a more potent CME– ideally G3 to G5 – with a new moon and the arrival of the CME timed where the peak of the storm is occurring around midnight in order to provide us with maximum darkness in order to see the northern lights in Illinois with our naked eyes. The University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, which tracks visibility of the Northern Lights, predicts "high" activity on Saturday, March 23. It's also worth noting that the northern lights can take on many different shapes and colors—not just the classic green and purple wisps you see in photos. The best Christmas lights displays in Illinois are the ones you can drive through. While fairly common near the North or South Pole, farther south, the chances tend to be limited to stronger solar storms. There is a chance that the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) might be visible here tonight and tomorrow night, although cloud cover could be a factor. Frost, then snow by Tuesday? Find a location where you can see the horizon to the north. The flare could arrive between Wednesday night and … Some Midwest residents could have the chance to see the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, Wednesday and Thursday nights. If conditions do in fact reach G2 levels, the probability of seeing the lights is pretty good north of I-90 across northern Iowa, Minnesota, northern Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan. The aurora borealis, most often seen above or near the Arctic Circle, could be visible as far south as roughly the Wisconsin state line Wednesday or possibly Thursday, forecasters said Wednesday. The biggest Northern Lights show of 2020: Where in the U.S. can you see it? Lake Superior is one of the best locations for observing northern lights in the Midwest. Go as far north as possible. Getting vertical will help, so a hill or tall building is ideal. “It’s looking like it will probably arrive (Thursday). The best location to see the Lights will be at the Illinois-Wisconsin border after 9 p.m. People may also see the spectacle Thursday night, but the National Weather Service said clouds could prevent a clear sighting. Billionaires who live in small towns across the United States, Why police can stop motorists with air fresheners hanging in their cars. The lights are “really most brilliant and exciting to look at within an hour or two of midnight,” Viereck said. Column: Chicago Cubs belt 6 home runs in a 13-4 rout of the Atlanta Braves. “It could line up perfectly if the timing is just right and it comes in strong, but of course, there are lots of caveats,” he said. The northern lights illuminate the sky over Lake Elora in northern Minnesota early on July 15, 2012. In several fateful seconds, video appears to show 13-year-old Adam Toledo toss gun, turn with empty hands raised before Chicago cop fires fatal shot (warning: graphic content), As anger lingers, Adam Toledo police shooting video leaves Chicago with familiar questions about police tactics. Similar to last week, the lights will cut a path over Washington, Idaho, Illinois, and Northern Pennsylvania. We can see it leave the sun and we kind of guess at its speed, but there are 93 million miles it has to travel,” Viereck said. You won’t have to get out of the car or drive all around town to enjoy these magical lights. “Looking at things, it appears this storm system is going to go in a track where most of Chicago is going to see mostly rain from this. There are myriad factors that must occur for the lights to be visible, most important of which is it happening at night. I'm still young. Have fun looking! It is possible to see the Northern Lights in Helsinki, but the light pollution of the city may make it harder to do so, so if you do catch a beautiful sighting in Helsinki, it must have been a really special night! By Friday night, northern Illinois residents will want to turn their eyes to the sky for a different reason, said Kevin Birk, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. https://t.co/403O8v2yGw. "For many people, the aurora is a beautiful nighttime phenomenon that is worth traveling to Arctic regions just to observe. The more sunspots, the more solar flare energy is being released into space (which means more aurora activity!). Typically, the Northern Lights are visible in parts of Europe including Norway, Sweden and Finland. Cities like Seattle, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Detroit and Boston are in the best viewing region to see the light show. The alignment should prompt a moderate geomagnetic storm, which makes the northern lights visible in parts of the country where they’re not usually seen. The size of a visible Aurora will be bigger than what is shown on this map, because the map gives the overhead location of the Aurora. Having said that, there is so much to see and do in Northern Scandinavia that 24 hours of daylight is actually rather welcome. Denali National Park, Alaska. The Northern Lights May Be Visible Over Illinois This Week Due To A Solar Storm. too! I live in IL. But for those who have always wanted to see them but have never traveled to Canada or Alaska, where the lights are visible much of the year, the opportunity is a rare treat. When it comes to where you could go, Rodney recommends northern spots like Fairbanks, Alaska , Whitehorse , Yellowknife and Churchill in Canada , and Iceland and northern Norway . Chicago may not get much in the way of snow, but a system rife with moisture will move through beginning Friday afternoon, leading to a mostly wet weekend, he said. Read more: Highlights of Santa’s Lapland and Reindeers: 7 Days Itinerary of Northern Finland. Towns all throughout Illinois celebrate the season with spectacular lights displays. It’s like the weather — we do our best.”. If the solar storm is strong enough, the … The map above or one from the SWPC in September, however, can provide a little context for how far south you might be able to see the northern lights during a … Better chances to see it will come as you go farther north and away from well-lit urban areas. Towns all throughout Illinois celebrate the season with spectacular lights displays. Birk said the Rockford area and parts of McHenry County could get as much as 6 inches of snow if the system moves as expected. The Space Weather Prediction Center explained that during a major geomagnetic storm, the southern and northern aurora ovals expand away from the poles so the aurora can be seen over the United States. Map courtesy of Space Weather Prediction Center Photo by … The latest forecast calls for the potential for the Northern Lights to be seen as far south as Northern Illinois. “Sometimes you just get lucky,” they said. Get away from the city lights. “There are several types of space weather storms, and this part of the event started with a moderate solar flare at the sun,” he said. Speaking from Colorado by phone Wednesday, Rodney Viereck, a scientist with the national Space Weather Prediction Center, said the event is the result of a solar flare that will create a geomagnetic storm. Such varied regions as New England, the Pacific Northwest, and even as far south as Nebraska, central Illinois and the very tip of Missouri had dreamed of catching sight of … I do not remember around what time of the year you can see them, but I would google it, and you could probably find out the next time we might be able to see them! Pennsylvania has an advantage when it comes to northern lights viewing potential, as … The Northern skies around Rockford on Wednesday night might reveal Northern Lights. Yes actually you can. Unless you’re really far north, such as Minnesota or Canada, the lights will not be overhead, rather in the distance to the north. Real ID and expired license backlog — but mostly COVID-19 — create long lines at driver services facilities. Iceland. It is the only way for most people to actually experience space weather," the Space Weather Prediction Center said. “Geomagnetic storms impact things like the electric power grid, satellite navigation and GPS, but what people most often associate with geomagnetic storms is the aurora.”. The sun has a heartbeat. 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For luxury in the wilderness, take a bush plane to Blachford Lake Lodge, a fly-in eco-lodge with viewing from a hot tub under the stars and more. — NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) December 9, 2020 The best location to see the Lights will be at the Illinois-Wisconsin border after 9 p.m. People … Where is the best place to see the northern lights? “The darker the sky, the better you can see it,” Viereck advised. Most good locations to see aurora borealis are in Ashland and Bayfield counties. Americans usually have to travel to catch a glimpse of the dazzling lights, but it seems this year scientists are expecting the Northern Lights to make a … Below are seven located throughout the state that your whole family will enjoy. Nichols and Gyuk from the Adler also stressed the uncertain nature of the potential event. The flare could arrive between Wednesday night and Friday. Viereck, as well as astronomers at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, said timing is the all-important component. To track the Aurora Borealis, click here. Let our expert Trip Curators plan your trip to Finland! It's a good sign if you see a thick aurora band with some areas of light yellow, orange or, better yet, RED on this map as opposed to just a thin (or transparent) band with only dark green. Was it an anomaly or a sign of things to come? Support Grows for Adam Toledo's Family as COPA Investigation Continues, Cook County Sheriff's Official Steps Down Amid Sexual Harassment Probe, Copyright © 2021 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Perhaps one of the most exclusive spots to view the Northern Lights … DAVENPORT, Iowa (KWQC) - A Geomagnetic storm will take place over the next few days leading to an increased chance for seeing the northern lights in Iowa and Illinois… And Wisconsin coast also boasts quite a few scenic spots by the water where aurora enthusiasts can see the elusive lights. But there are some limiting factors for us here in Chicago. This is known as the solar cycle and is measured by the number of sunspots visible on the sun. Be ready to stay up from at least 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. in pursuit of the lights. A solar storm forecast for this weekend could make it possible to catch the Northern Lights in parts of the U.S., including New York, Michigan, Illinois, and Washington state. To check on Northern Lights in your area, see if your state is along the yellow line or above on the Space Weather Prediction Center. Viereck, as well as astronomers at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, said timing is the all-important component. If the SWPC's projected peak … All rights reserved. That means once the system arrives late Friday afternoon, it should begin to rain and rarely let up for more than 24 hours. 4. Viereck said it has been about two or three years since there was a storm of this potential magnitude. I've seen the Northern Lights only once or twice, but hey! 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