Photos: Friday’s northern lights in West Michigan

Blake Harms
·3 min read

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Onlookers were treated to a stunning display of the aurora borealis in the West Michigan sky Friday night.

Sightings were first reported shortly after sunset. A narrow window between sunset and incoming cloud cover allowed many to catch a glimpse from across nearly all of West Michigan. The aurora has been spotted as far south as Key Largo, Florida — and perhaps even farther.

  • The northern lights in Zeeland on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Caleb Spierenburg)
    The northern lights in Zeeland on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Caleb Spierenburg)
  • The northern lights in Rockford on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Ross Dense)
    The northern lights in Rockford on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Ross Dense)
  • The northern lights in Grand Rapids on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Sam Brewer)
    The northern lights in Grand Rapids on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Sam Brewer)
  • The northern lights in Hudsonville on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Spencer Hammersmith)
    The northern lights in Hudsonville on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Spencer Hammersmith)
  • The northern lights in Jamestown Township on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Ryan Marcinkus)
    The northern lights in Jamestown Township on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Ryan Marcinkus)
  • The northern lights in Coopersville on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Kim Hall)
    The northern lights in Coopersville on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Kim Hall)
  • The northern lights in Jenison on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Jason King)
    The northern lights in Jenison on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Jason King)
  • The northern lights in Hudsonville on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Spencer Hammersmith)
    The northern lights in Hudsonville on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Spencer Hammersmith)
  • The northern lights in Wayland on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Caleb Mason)
    The northern lights in Wayland on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Caleb Mason)
  • The northern lights in Coopersville on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Kim Hall)
    The northern lights in Coopersville on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Kim Hall)
  • The northern lights in Zeeland on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Caleb Spierenburg)
    The northern lights in Zeeland on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Caleb Spierenburg)
  • The northern lights in Greenville on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Kristy Edmonds)
    The northern lights in Greenville on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Kristy Edmonds)
  • The northern lights in Rockford on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Ross Dense)
    The northern lights in Rockford on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Ross Dense)
  • The northern lights in Grand Rapids on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Sam Brewer)
    The northern lights in Grand Rapids on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Sam Brewer)
  • The northern lights in Zeeland on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Caleb Spierenburg)
    The northern lights in Zeeland on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Caleb Spierenburg)
  • The northern lights in Grand Rapids on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Sam Brewer)
    The northern lights in Grand Rapids on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Sam Brewer)
  • The northern lights in Wayland on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Caleb Mason)
    The northern lights in Wayland on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Caleb Mason)
  • The northern lights in Jenison on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Jason King)
    The northern lights in Jenison on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Jason King)
  • The northern lights in Jamestown Township on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Ryan Marcinkus)
    The northern lights in Jamestown Township on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Ryan Marcinkus)
  • The northern lights in Jenison on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Jason King)
    The northern lights in Jenison on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Jason King)
  • The northern lights in Vestasburg on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Adam Marshall)
    The northern lights in Vestasburg on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Adam Marshall)
  • The northern lights in Greenville on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Kristy Edmonds)
    The northern lights in Greenville on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Kristy Edmonds)
  • The northern lights in Vestasburg on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Adam Marshall)
    The northern lights in Vestasburg on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Adam Marshall)
  • The northern lights in Rockford on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Ross Dense)
    The northern lights in Rockford on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Ross Dense)
  • The northern lights in Allegan on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Erica Freund)
    The northern lights in Allegan on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Erica Freund)
  • The northern lights in Allegan on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Erica Freund)
    The northern lights in Allegan on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Erica Freund)
  • The northern lights in Coopersville on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Kim Hall)
    The northern lights in Coopersville on May 10, 2024. (Courtesy Kim Hall)
  • The northern lights in Georgetown Township on May 10, 2024.
    The northern lights in Georgetown Township on May 10, 2024.

The sightings come as a rare and “extreme” G5 geomagnetic storm was declared Friday evening. It’s the most impactful type of storm and can cause significant issues such as voltage control problems, issues with satellite navigation and potentially even blackouts, according to the Space Weather Prediction Center. Some issues with Bluetooth connectivity were noted in the Grand Rapids area Friday night.

The last G5 geomagnetic storm occurred in October 2003 and resulted in numerous satellite, broadcast and communications issues across the world.

Cloud cover rolling into West Michigan overnight will end ideal viewing conditions into early Saturday, though sightings remain possible Saturday night as the geomagnetic storm continues and clouds begin to clear.

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