Whenever you are home or away, Aurora Alerts (iOS and Android) will notify you if the possibility of seeing the northern lights exists. The gas giant shines at magnitude -2.6, the typical brightness of the International Space Station, and rises nearly due east in Pisces a full 45 to the left (east) of Saturn. But even though there is a set period of discovering the impressive light display, you must be a lucky person to witness one of them. Thus, while short term forecasting is MUCH better than long term forecasts, it is still problematic. If I were travelling to Lutsen, I might personally go the few extra miles to Grand Marais. Hawk Ridge is located on East Skyline Parkway on the northeastern side of Duluth and features an overlook where viewers can park to see the lights from their car. NOAA suggests checking for the aurora between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time, when the lights are typically most active you can see a 30-minute . In fact, the weather affects light activity significantly, especially space weather: solar flares of the sun and the solar wind stream. Some of these roads are snowmobile trails in the winter, which can look plowed at first but you'll quickly learn that they are not. Unfortunately Northern Lights displays are difficult to predict. Still, it's a chance to see the northern lights! Downloading the maps and directions prior to embarking on your journey is critical. The key will be cloud cover, which according to the National Weather Service is expected to diminish from west to east across Minnesota tonight. Here, visitors can see splendid Northern Lights displays and even meteor showers. Statistically, the equinox months of September and March are best for aurora activity. Each hour is shown as a small, colored square. Plus, they have a forecast available to help you know what Aurora activity you may see in the week ahead. We will be in a 4 Runner and plan to drive out of any town to get better views. In the explosive event that a coronal mass ejection (CME) is reported it's time to hop into action because this super-charged solar wind is traveling fast (maybe 3-to-5 million miles per hour). Personally I like to wait until it's at Partly cloudy works, too. Minnesota is a state that offers polar lights chasers a supply of several ideal spots to witness the beauty as it is. Storm and Precipitation Reports; Outlooks; Submit a Storm Report; . If the lights are going to happen in North Dakota, you don't have to worry about going to a particular area of the state. We love the wilderness, and most people will always check to insure a person is okay if a car is stopped on a remote road. The winter months of October-thru-February are also good (there is definitely no shortage of darkness!). The Twin Cities National Weather Service office pushed the hope meter a little higher later Friday afternoon: So, maybe. latest forecast Northern Lights Forecast April 2022 Aurora May Appear Over Us Thrillist. (UT = Universal Time). Current Hazards. Please note the red viewing line. This tool is linked from this page. Both the forecasts for Northern Lights and weather / clouds are a crap shoot your call. If you are not truly well versed in camping, I would not take on camping in the winter time. I like to check it several times a day for the latest prediction. JC: Forecasting cloud cover is difficult, but my Northern Lights page has a tool from the National Weather Service. Once again, for Northern Minnesota you want a Kp of 5 or higher. Thanks for helping in advance! Any help will be much appreciated. Share your photos of the Northern Lights in That's So Minnesota, submit using the "Near Me" feature in the KARE 11 app, or text 763-797-7215. In addition to the Northern Lights, other celestial events happen throughout the year. That said, I'm reasonably confident we'll have a wonderful show. Weather permitting, good northern lights displays could be visible directly overhead in most northern communities. Space Weather Prediction Center Advance forecasts for Northern Lights, anything over three days out are almost worthless. Northern Lights March 1-4, 2023. When and where would be our best chance of seeing the Northern Lights from the Duluth area. The Grand Ely Lodge (get room facing north). Kansas City & Oklahoma. I watched the parents raise triplets recently near my home at the northern edge of Duluth. Minnesota Northern Lights Viewing and Photography, Facebook Group Great Lakes Aurora Hunters, Facebook Group Northern Lights | Lake Superior Region, https://www.365daysofbirds.com/2017/01/25/planning-winter-minnesota-northern-lights-trip/, https://www.365daysofbirds.com/2017/09/09/optimizing-your-probability-of-seeing-northern-lights/, Birding the Magical Elixir of Water in the Desert, Surfing the Arctic Riviera at Stony Point, Fighting Grosbeaks of Sax-Zim Bog (Evening and Pine), MN North: Pagami Creek Forest Fire Region, MN South: Minnesota River National Wildlife Refuge, MN South: Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, Uses Ovation Aurora want 45 Ghz or higher in NE Minnesota. Despite all the negative press the trough gets, I enjoyed the low phase and attained my goal of one hero shot per year (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020). Charged particles from the solar flare will interact with the Earths' magnetosphere which will lead to widespread visuals of the aurora borealis (Northern Lights). Make sure to go at least 20 to 30 miles outside of any town to avoid light pollution. While I do not hunt anymore, please understand that hunting is no different than attending a sports event or concert in a big city a great leisure time activity. Minnesotans Capture Northern Lights On Sept 4 2022. Clear skies are a must for viewing the lights and, of course, staying in a destination for as long as possible will help increase your chances of spying them. richardhoeg@gmail.com says . In addition, should the Northern Lights forecast look good, first check out your desired viewing location in the day time. Ely) to get away from the city lights. Binoculars will show three additional fainter stars 45, 44 and 42 Capricorni from bottom to top that form an attractive arc just above Saturn. Jupiter and Venus embrace on March 1, Astro Bob: 92 moons and counting Meet Jupiter's growing family, Astro Bob: Aurora alert Feb. 19-20, tiny-asteroid impact update, Astro Bob: Don't look now, but there's a giraffe over your head, Astro Bob: Asteroid 2023 CX1 explodes over France; Venus greets Neptune. But, clouds will move thru, possibly covering the sky. Learn more about the NLX project; Current status Ovation Aurora forecasts the likelihood of viewing the Aurora within the next 30 minutes. The wildlife including birds is fantastic. In fact, it presents yet another scenic opportunity for skywatchers if you're out late, the moon triples up with Mars the Pleiades star cluster. News / Feb 27, 2023 / 11:00 PM CST. Weather permitting, active auroral displays will be visible overhead from Utqiavik to Anchorage and Juneau, and visible low on the horizon from King Salmon and Prince Rupert. 2) By March normally the severe cold is past for any given winter, and the slush has frozen. 1 to 5 scale Northern Lights Express, or NLX, is igniting imaginations around Minnesota and the nation. Stay with WCCO to follow the latest on your chances to see the atmospheric light show! I would never visit my region just for the hope of seeing the Aurora. You'll notice a fainter star just 1.5 below the ringed planet. The aurora forecast is updated daily at midnight UTC. October 30, 2021 / 5:00 AM / CBS Minnesota MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Minnesota is under a solar storm watch for Saturday night, meaning you might be able to see the northern lights. The first wave of the storm hit earlier this morning, with the grand slam expected to arrive early Wednesday night. We always like to know what the moon's doing since its glare can compromise a delicacy like the aurora. I really appreciate all the great information you have provided here. Not all roadways are accessible year-round or maintained regularly. Viewing the Northern Lights will be not be likely from your actual motel due to limited view to the actual northern skies and the lights from the Lutsen area. . Northern lights over Saganaga Lake. In the next seven days temperatures will hit the -40F which does include windchill. Copyright 2023 Todd Salat - Aurora Hunter is a registered trademark. For many, catching a glimpse of this stunning natural phenomenon is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The Aurora Borealis could put on a show in Minnesota Monday night and maybe again on Tuesday. Northern State falls to MN Duluth in semifinals. You dont have to travel to the Arctic Circle to see the Northern Lights, also known as the aurora borealis. Both human-made lights and a bright moon can obscure northern lights. The project is eligible for an 80% federal matching grant, contingent upon securing state funding. On this site you'll find: The Alaska Northern Lights forecast in Fairbanks, Anchorage and all the Alaskan territory. Only you can make the determination whether the drive is worth the risk. Aurora Borealis season in northern polar latitudes (Alaska, northern Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Siberia) runs from August-thru-April. It might be tough to see the northern lights in the Twin Cities due to light pollution. Geomagnetic activity is driven by solar activity and solar coronal holes and thus it waxes and wanes with time. We see that you have javascript disabled. For the best chance of viewing the northern lights, follow these steps: Check that the aurora is active with an Aurora Forecast. What does that mean? You will definitely make our birding trip more enjoyable, and hopefully my first view of northern lights!! Joshua: It is possible to view the Aurora Borealis in the middle of the Summer in northern Minnesota, but the viewing window each night is short. Reservations: 218-758-2343. info@northernlightsresort.com. It rises Weds. Silverwood Park, in a few miles from downtown Minneapolis, hosts after-dark displays for visitors to investigate. Immediate Forecasts are very good and use Ovation Aurora which measures current conditions on earth and makes predictions for 20 to 40 minutes in the future. First of all thanks a lot for this wonderful information. Long, starry nights of fall and winter make months from September to February well-known for northern lights journeys. The incident happened in southeast Rochester on Friday morning. Enthusiast Dashboard. Jupiter really grabs the eye. Meanwhile, Saturn and Jupiter continue to push into the evening sky. Good news on that front, too. Hi, do you think its going to be possible to see northern lights in December or January? They will be renting specialized winter gear from outfitters in Ely. Should be a great time and location. Take a look at the cloud cover forecast for 9 p.m. Monday (left) and midnight (right). NOAA's Do you think it will be too cloudy to view? Be prepared to head out a bit after sunset to known viewing spots IF the Ovation numbers are good. Future predicted Kp Index by hour (UTC) 00-03. Viewing the Aurora Borealis in the winter is very possible in northern Minnesota. Much luck to you! With respect to whether the Northern Lights will shine way to early to predict. Astro Bob Strong Geomagnetic Storm And Bright Aurora Expected Wednesday March 30 Duluth News Tribune Weather Sports From Minnesota. forecast, but my favorite tool is You will see stars in numbers a city dweller can only imagine, and if you are lucky the Aurora Borealis. Looks like it will be a New Moon the time I go. Grand Marais, on the north shore of Lake Superior, is one of the best places to view the northern lights in the continental United States. If you feel you have received this message in error, please contact the customer support team at 1-833-248-7801. First published on October 30, 2021 / 5:00 AM. Solar storms are sending multiple waves of energy toward the earth. In 2006, he founded a local charity in Duluth, Minnesota with the mission of providing financial support to families with children who have life-threatening illnesses. The folks at the front desk could arrange dog sled tours, directions to the Bear Research Center, etc. We are hoping to see the Aurora Borealis but realize it may not happen. KP levels is a scale of numbers 0 -9 that will give you an approximation of where youll need to go for a chance to see the auroras. By Jon Waterman I have been a self-proclaimed amateur photographer for a while now but I have never taken night photos. Strong-Extreme storm. Aurora is likely to show as soon as evening twilight ends across northern Maine, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin and North Dakota. Hawk Ridge, Duluth. One of the best space weather shows of the year. I hope you have clear skies. What a fantastic informational site! DULUTH, MN - Throughout the year, we are treated here in the Northland with one of Mother Nature's greatest visual displays, the northern lights, or, aurora borealis. Want Kp index of 5+ in NE Minnesota. Which way is best to track Aurora activity? Saturn's up and easy to see low in the southeast by 11 p.m. local time, with Jupiter arriving on the scene around midnight. Home. Refer to the Northern Lights PDF to identify which routes are on plowed roads. Deer hunting season only last a few weeks during November, and I do not mind turning over the trails for a short time to my friends who hunt. A man watches the northern lights in Iceland, one of the . "Astro" Bob King is a freelance writer for the Duluth News Tribune. Having said that, hunters never hunt after sunset or before sunrise. At night the Milky Way is an amazing sight. A strong geomagnetic storm will deliver the basic ingredients to produce aurora borealis sightings across Minnesota this weekend. On the day of your hoped for Aurora watching, use Ovation Aurora also linked on this page. The later in the month the better for two basic reasons nights get longer which means more time for a possible display, and the closer to the Fall equinox on September 21st the better. Project Description. Northern Lights May Be Seen Across U S This Weekend Time. Spring and fall, especially September and March, offer the best chances to see the northern lights here. Northern Lights Driver Education provides driver training to students in Duluth and the surrounding area. When the fact that true darkness only occurs 2 hours after sunset, and 2 hours before sunrise, the viewing window on June 21st would only be from approximately 11 pm to 3 am. Important: Construction does still impact travel from Wisconsin. It should intensify after 10 p.m. local time and remain strong through 2 a.m. before declining to a moderate (G2) storm before dawn. Rural areas in western WI (early evening . 01%. Using Google Maps in satellite mode can help you find potential viewing spots wherever you will be visiting. - Map showing how strong the aurora is around the world, based on the SWPC ovation aurora forecast. The Ovation Auroral prediction. This is a very helpful tool for predicting auroras. Come August days are shorter and the viewing window would be greater. Your browser is not supported for this experience.We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari. View full-size map. These were photographed on July 15 just north of Duluth, Minn. . Also avoid areas south of even small towns. Cloud on the above list are among the top 10 coldest cities in the country. Please note: These maps are intended for reference only. According to spaceweather.com, two coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, are set to arrive into the atmosphere on Monday and Tuesday.CMEs are ejections from the sun's atmosphere that carry a magnetic field and result in the formation of Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has posted a strong storm watch, noting conditions could make northern lights visible as far south as Iowa. The peak hours are between 11pm and 2am, however, anytime its dark there is hope. If your willing to stay at a resort, there are a number of options I like on the Gunflint Trail. 4th of July Coon Rapids Fireworks & Events, Explore Minnesota Tourism: Northern Lights, Visit Cook County Minnesota: Northern Lights in Cook County, National Park Service: Northern Lights in Voyagers National Parks. NLX is a proposed passenger rail project between Target Field Station in Minneapolis and Union Depot in Duluth. Today's and tonight's Duluth, MN weather forecast, weather conditions and Doppler radar from The Weather Channel and Weather.com We see that you have javascript disabled. As far as I know there is noone who leads Northern Lights tours in Minnesota, me included. Additional Info. Stellar Skies Northern Lights Illuminate The North Star State Explore Minnesota. From your room you should be able to see a display of the Northern Lights, but it a good display was in progress it would be essential to get out of town (i.e. The sky is not truly dark except during that period of the night. Please be advised, in many of these locations, there will not be cell phone service. Go to the website, then click the Find a Chart link to the left, fill in your location, and you're ready to go. The night is lighted up with a river of greens, purples, and reds and it seems like the whole universe is waving hello. The only essentials are a dark sky to the north with as little city light pollution as possible and clear weather. Live Webstream. I try to remind myself that nature always has the upper hand and can be as predictable as capricious. Bearskin Lodge on the Gunflint Trail inland from Grand Marais. Excessive moonlight washes out Aurora displays. Thanks for the reply Im a little confused as to where you check the GW 45 rating at also I am planning on going to lutsen mn. Let's hope we can give it to them. Check out our hot deals today. While I do not give classes, I have been know to let folks know what public boat launch north of Duluth I might be hanging out while watching the Northern Lights. With the help of local photographer, Bryan Hansel, we have created a comprehensive list of some of the best places to view the northern lights in Cook County, MN. All rights reserved. Lutsen is further north than anywhere in Wisconsin. Details are still being worked out, but I will post on my blog once registration is open. If that same sunspot (or coronal hole) is still active it will have rotated around with the sun and will be, once again, in geoeffective position (pointing toward earth).and hosing us with an enhanced flow of aurora-generating solar wind. . https://www.365daysofbirds.com/2017/01/25/planning-winter-minnesota-northern-lights-trip/, Planning your Northern Lights trip: The Northern Lights are caused by the interaction of the solar wind a stream of charged particles escaping the Sun and our planets magnetic field and atmosphere. -Continue in right lane and bear right (NE) onto West Railroad St. A map of states where the auroras may be visible shows the best chances are in northern Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. 1. While I understand your concern over wilderness areas, you are actually much, much safer out in the middle of nowhere than a city. .". When you see northern lights face to faceflashing, weaving, and pulsing across the starry skyit feels like pure magic. Skies are very dark. Thanks a million! Duluth Entertainment Convention Center350 Harbor Dr, Duluth, MN 55802. Like you, I listen to the A Few Tips for Spotting the Northern Lights. The Grand Ely Lodge on Shagawa Lake should work many of the rooms face north looking over the lake away from the towns lights. Washington State, Idaho, Montana and the Dakotas may see the lights. Upon linking to the site, you will see a image of the northern hemisphere. Two nights in a row of aurora can we be so lucky? Back roads in northern Minnesota are snow packed. Thanks to its northern location and dark skies, Cook County is blessed enough to host this miracle. Best to check on updates from NOAA and the local weather service offices in Duluth and the Twin Cities before jumping in the car this weekend to find the lights. I am planning a trip to the Duluth area this weekend October 14th and 15th the ratings for the Northern Lights is at a 5 can you tell me where a good spot is to view them and if Im in the correct area Ive been reading your post in your blogs it appears like there is a place called Boulder Lake if Im correct that you went to can you tell me if that is still a good spot also can you tell me is there anything that you can see that shows whether or not the lights may or may not be visible or have any good tips for me this is the first time experience but have always wanted to view them. Solar forecasters point their collective finger at a CME (coronal mass ejection) that erupted back on August 14 as the primary cause, amplified by a recent coronal hole, a high-speed wind of material streaming from a gap in the sun's atmosphere. About Us. NOAA (The National Weather Service) maintains a graph which tracks Aurora watches and warnings. "Astro" Bob King is a freelance writer and retired photographer for the Duluth News Tribune. For 400 years, from the time of Galileo until now, we have been keeping track of the number of these sunspots and, as the trends show in these two graphs, this cycle is predictable. This web page lists resources that will help you predict whether the Northern Lights will dance across the skies from 30 minutes to 28 days out from the current time. A Quick Timeout Would you like to download a free PDF copy of my latest childrens picture book, Do You Hoot? Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data. I am looking forward to view some aurora display. I am planning a trip to Tofte early August. Jupiter and Venus embrace on March 1, Astro Bob: 92 moons and counting Meet Jupiter's growing family. Instead, assuming other conditions are also favorable it shows the southern limit of where the Northern Lights may be viewed assuming a given Kp forecast. Cloud, Rochester, and Stillwater are known for hosting an occasional northern light show. Please pick up an official road map for offline navigation. It costs a few dollars, but well worth the expense. True darkness occurs about 2 hours after sunset through 2 hours before sunrise. **new** Northern Lights and Stargazing tips and forecasts (Mar 4-5) travel tips. We will be in Grand Portage/Isle Royale in September. Any chance of a notification group and any hopes for Aurora in July? First St, Duluth, MN 55802 . 0. Should get better & better as we head toward the predicted peak in 2025. The more sunspots, the more solar flare energy is being released into space (which means more aurora activity!). After an active aurora night, mark that date on a calendar and in 27-28 days pay close attention to the sky.