Northern lights: Aurora sightings return to West Michigan

Blake Harms
·1 min read
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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — For the second night, aurora borealis sightings have begun to stack up in West Michigan.

Sightings began shortly after 10:15 p.m. Saturday in places like Allendale, Rothbury and Saranac. Most are only visible through phone cameras, though it may occasionally become more vibrant overnight. Many phones have a built-in feature to set longer exposure times to more clearly view the aurora.

Views of the aurora were fainter than Friday night, with many only being able to see some faint pink hues.

  • The northern lights in Newaygo on May 11, 2024. (Courtesy Destiny Vannorden)
    The northern lights in Newaygo on May 11, 2024. (Courtesy Destiny Vannorden)
  • The northern lights at the Mackinac Bridge on May 11, 2024. (Courtesy Shane Gifford)
    The northern lights at the Mackinac Bridge on May 11, 2024. (Courtesy Shane Gifford)
  • The northern lights in Allendale on May 11, 2024. (Courtesy Sarah Keeney)
    The northern lights in Allendale on May 11, 2024. (Courtesy Sarah Keeney)
  • The northern lights in Goetzville on May 11, 2024. (Courtesy Ashley Potoczak)
    The northern lights in Goetzville on May 11, 2024. (Courtesy Ashley Potoczak)
  • The northern lights in Ravenna on May 11, 2024. (Courtesy Jessica Sory)
    The northern lights in Ravenna on May 11, 2024. (Courtesy Jessica Sory)
  • The northern lights in Rockford on May 11, 2024. (Courtesy)
    The northern lights in Rockford on May 11, 2024. (Courtesy)
  • The northern lights in Big Rapids on May 11, 2024. (Courtesy Brittannee Beck)
    The northern lights in Big Rapids on May 11, 2024. (Courtesy Brittannee Beck)
  • The northern lights in Muskegon on May 11, 2024. (Courtesy Jen Hart)
    The northern lights in Muskegon on May 11, 2024. (Courtesy Jen Hart)
  • The northern lights in Goetzville on May 11, 2024. (Courtesy Ashley Potoczak)
    The northern lights in Goetzville on May 11, 2024. (Courtesy Ashley Potoczak)

The skies lit up Friday night with dazzling displays of green and purple across West Michigan. The northern lights were seen as far south as Florida. It came as a G5 geomagnetic storm impacted Earth for the first time since October 2003.

Photos: Friday’s northern lights in West Michigan

Kp index values remain elevated as the solar storm continues. (Courtesy: Space Weather Prediction Center)
Kp index values remain elevated as the solar storm continues. (Courtesy: Space Weather Prediction Center)

Solar activity remained elevated Saturday.

Tonight’s aurora forecast. (Courtesy: Space Weather Prediction Center)
Tonight’s aurora forecast. (Courtesy: Space Weather Prediction Center)

The aurora may continue for some parts of the country this week. However, West Michigan will see showers and thunderstorms Sunday night into Monday.

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