COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Branch County residents may catch a glimpse of the vibrant aurora borealis tonight, as a strong geomagnetic storm barrels toward Earth.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center issued a G3 (Strong) Geomagnetic Storm Watch following a trio of powerful solar flares.
The influx of solar particles is expected to drive the northern lights much farther south than usual, extending potential viewing conditions past mid-Michigan and right up to the Indiana border, putting all of southern Michigan squarely in the viewing zone.
For the best chance to view the phenomenon, local skygazers should head away from city lights into dark, rural areas of Branch County and face the northern horizon after dark.
While the peak auroral activity is predicted to unfold during the evening and overnight hours, peak darkness between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. will offer the optimal viewing window. F
Forecasters say that the aurora may initially appear faint or colorless to the naked eye; however, residents can maximize their experience by using smartphones set to a long-exposure night mode, which can capture vibrant green and purple hues that the human eye cannot easily distinguish.
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