SPOKANE, Wash. — It looks like we’re in for a treat this week as the weather breaks and gives us some clear skies.
A couple of fun astronomical events could keep you staying up a little longer than planned. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a magnetic storm watch for a 24-hour period.
The bottom line is – you have a chance to see the beautiful Northern Lights late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning.
The Aurora Watch starts at 4 p.m. Wednesday and lasts for a 24-hour period. The darkest part of the evening will give you the best chance to see the Auroras between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m.
VIEW | Current forecast
The Aurora Borealis occur in the northern hemisphere when a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) or high-speed solar wind stream emanating from the sun is pointed towards earth and illuminates from the poles upon arrival.
Basically, there are space particles that will enter our ozone layer, creating the fascinating light show. Most of the time these Northern Lights can be seen near the poles, but occasionally, we get a viewing opportunity right here in Washington.
Plan on staying out late Thursday as well. Another astronomical phenomenon called the Unicorn Meteor Storm will take place on Thursday evening. The forecast for both nights call for clear skies and temperatures in the 30s to lower 40s.
