Will northern lights appear in Michigan skies tonight? See forecast
—
Sept. 16, 2026, 9:04 a.m. ET
Some Michigan residents could see northern lights Wednesday, Sept. 16, according to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) forecast.
NOAA is predicting a G0 to G1 geomagnetic storm that could produce a Kp index of up to 4.67 Wednesday night, Sept. 16, leading to potentially strong aurora borealis, or northern lights, visibility in the Upper Peninsula and northern Michigan.
Kp is an index used to indicate the severity of the global magnetic disturbances in near-Earth space, NOAA said. Kp ratings increase from zero to 9. NOAA is predicting minor geomagnetic storm impacts.
However, local National Weather Service offices are predicting overcast skies and chances of rain showers overnight across the U.P. and northern Michigan.
Planning a northern lights getaway? Book accommodations here
Here’s what to know about the northern lights forecast.
When could the northern lights be visible?
The northern lights could be visible in the Upper Peninsula and northern Michigan Wednesday night, Sept. 16, the SWPC said. Poor weather conditions could block visibility though, with local National Weather Service offices forecasting clouds and rain throughout the region.
The aurora forecast calls for the Kp index to reach 4.67 after 7 p.m. Wednesday, which would boost the aurora, and remain strong until about midnight.
What are the northern lights?
The northern lights, or aurora borealis, are waves of light created when the solar wind strikes the atmosphere, creating a display of moving lights in the night sky.
Why do the northern lights have different colors?
The color of the aurora depends on which gas is being excited by the electrons and on how much energy is being exchanged, NASA said.
Oxygen emits either a greenish-yellow light (the most familiar color of the aurora) or a red light; nitrogen generally gives off a blue light. The oxygen and nitrogen molecules also emit ultraviolet light, which can only be detected by special cameras on satellites.
Can’t see the northern lights? Use your phone
If you’re having trouble seeing the northern lights with the naked eye, try using your phone camera in night mode and hold still while capturing the photo. You might be surprised at what’s dancing in the sky.
The Lansing State Journal contributed.
Contact Jenna Prestininzi: [email protected].
