You might be able to see the Northern Lights in Green Bay Thursday night

Rebecca Loroff, Green Bay Press-Gazette
·2 min read

The aurora borealis could appear in the Green Bay area Thursday night and early Friday morning, according to the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center.

Also known as the northern lights, the aurora borealis can be elusive, especially with unsettled weather in the forecast for this week.

The northern lights happen when the sun releases plasma particles that interact with the earth's magnetic field. Usually, the release of those particles take the form of a coronal mass ejection, or CME, which can form near sunspots.

These kinds of ejections are hard to predict more than a day or two in advance, according to Gerry Kocken, president of the Neville Public Museum Astronomical Society.

"Anything can happen at anytime," Kocken said. "Conditions are good (for the aurora borealis) but that doesn't mean it will (happen)."

However, if you plan to look for the sky putting on a show, here's how you can improve your chances of finding it.

The Northern Lights, rarely seen in Wisconsin, put on a spectacular display April 23, 2023, near Pulaski, Wis.
The Northern Lights, rarely seen in Wisconsin, put on a spectacular display April 23, 2023, near Pulaski, Wis.

How can I see the aurora borealis in Green Bay?

Generally speaking, "any open area with dark skies and northern viewing is suitable" for viewing the northern lights said Scott Dickson, vice president of the Neville Public Museum Astronomical Society. He also recommended heading to rural areas to get a better view away from city lights.

In addition, Newport State Park on the northeast end of Door County has been designated as a Dark Sky Park by the International Dark Sky Association. That means it's recognized as one of the best places to see the night sky unaffected by light pollution from nearby cities.

The best time to look for the aurora is from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., according to NOAA. The agency also releases 30-minute forecasts for when the aurora borealis will be the most active.

Will the Northern Lights be blocked by cloud cover?

This week, an unsettled weather pattern will cause periods of cloud cover over northern Wisconsin and keep rain in the forecast, according to the National Weather Service.

But the odds of clear skies during the night are good, said Mike Cellitti, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Green Bay.

The periods of showers and thunderstorms over this week will mostly take place "during peak heating hours" in the afternoon and evening, Cellitti said. But after nightfall, he said, the sky should be "mostly clear."

Rebecca Loroff is a breaking and trending news reporter for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. Contact her at rloroff@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Northern Lights could appear in Green Bay area Thursday night