Time lapse video: Northern lights near Milwaukee, Wisconsin
See a time lapse video of the northern lights dance across the sky north of Milwaukee, Wisconsin in Bayside on Thursday night.
Wisconsinites could have a chance to see the northern lights on July 26, according to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center.
The SWPC’s forecast has a Kp index of five. For indexes in this range, lights will likely be “brighter and there will be more auroral activity” — if they make an appearance — since they’re moving further from the poles, according to the SWPC.
The SWPC has an aurora forecast tool that provides a short-term forecast. The forecaster shows the lights’ location and intensity for the next 30 to 90 minutes.
What will the weather be like in Wisconsin on July 26?
The National Weather Service forecasts showers for parts of Wisconsin, though northern cities, like Green Bay and Appleton, will have mostly clear skies the night of July 26.
Meanwhile, southern Wisconsin could have cloudy skies if anticipated showers develop. Storms are expected to roll through Milwaukee into July 26, with “lightning and heavy downpours” expected, per the NWS. Rainy conditions are also expected in Kenosha, Racine and Madison.
What are tips for watching the northern lights?
The SWPC says the lights are typically best “within an hour or two” of midnight, meaning you should keep an eye out between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.
You should also head away from city lights and seek high vantage points for a better chance of seeing them. You can find a full list of tips on the SWPC’s website.
What are the best places in Wisconsin to watch the northern lights?
Here’s a list of spots across Wisconsin that offer some of the best views of the night sky: