Northern Lights May Put on a Show Over Michigan Labor Day Night

Much of Michigan could have the chance to see a dazzling display from the Aurora Borealis before Labor Day Weekend is officially over.

According to the science types at space.com, "a fast-moving coronal mass ejection (CME), launched by a long-duration M2.7 flare from sunspot AR 4199 on August 30, is expected to slam into Earth's magnetic field late on September 1 into early September 2."

READ MORE: These Are the Best Places in Michigan to Watch for the Northern Lights

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Blah, blah, blah.

What’s Causing This Aurora Event?

What all that mumbo-jumbo means is that a major geomagnetic storm is likely late Labor Day night into Tuesday morning that could result in much of the northern United States — including most of Michigan — getting a pretty good shot at seeing the Northern Lights.

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Those hoping to catch a glimpse of the auroras will be happy to know that clear skies are expected over most of the state of Michigan overnight, and with the moon setting shortly after midnight, conditions should become optimal for viewing the Northern Lights — assuming they cooperate.

Best Times to See the Northern Lights in Michigan

According to the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, the absolute best time to watch for the Northern Lights overnight will be between 2am and 5am. The potential remains for some color in the sky anytime between sunset and sunrise. Keep an eye to the north, and try to view from the darkest place you can get to for your best shot.

Tips for Viewing the Aurora Borealis

Want real-time aurora forecasts to monitor whether conditions are ripe for viewing throughout the overnight hours? Soft Serve News estimates geomagnetic activity level (or Kp number) in 4-minute increments. Bookmark the site and watch for anything above 5 Kp — that's when the Lower Peninsula has the best shot at seeing the Northern Lights.

Happy viewing, and good luck!