Aurora seen around Denver, across Colorado

DENVER (KDVR) — Coloradans, even around the city, were treated to a rare sight on Friday night, when the aurora borealis lit the night sky pink, purple and green.

Where, when to look for northern lights Saturday night

“Extreme” geomagnetic conditions reached Earth on Friday evening, creating the mesmerizing glow of the northern lights in places across the U.S. — including in places in the Colorado high country and the Denver metro.

The spectacle happens when coronal mass ejections from the Sun reach Earth’s magnetic field, sparking the interaction known as a geomagnetic storm, according to NASA. Currents created by the interaction send particles to the north and south poles, which create auroras when they interact with oxygen and nitrogen.

While initial forecasts showed Coloradans would have had to drive a couple of hours north to see the aurora, people from northern Colorado to south of Denver were treated with the sight.

But while the event can make for pretty photos, it can also wreak havoc. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a geomagnetic storm of this strength has the potential to impact the power grid, radio, GPS, satellite navigation and other technologies.

Did you see the aurora in your area? Send your photos to tips@kdvr.com.

Will Coloradans be able to see it Saturday?

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the aurora borealis could be seen as far south as Denver on Saturday.

Could Colorado see aurora borealis more this weekend?

However, Coloradans may have a tough time seeing it.

This is because the sky is projected to be at least partially cloudy, with over 90% cloud cover forecasted for some areas, according to the National Weather Service.

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