This week, especially early on, the Northern Lights may be able to be seen here in Western New York!
In order to view the light show in the sky, you need to get to an area that is very dark and away from any light pollution. Once you do that, look north right around the horizon. There, you should be able to spot a faint green glow.
The reason the sky may change colors this week is because of higher solar activity than usual for the area.
Typically, the protective magnetic field around Earth shields us from most of the energy and particles, and we don’t even notice them.
When a solar storm comes toward us, some of the energy and small particles can travel through the magnetic field at the north and south poles into Earth’s atmosphere. There, the particles interact with gases in our atmosphere resulting in beautiful displays of light in the sky.
Oxygen gives off green and red light. Nitrogen glows blue and purple.
In Buffalo Monday night into Tuesday night, clouds are forecasted to fill in and rain will eventually follow. That means optimal viewing time would be just after sunset Monday night. Fingers crossed some of you will be able to catch a glimpse!
If you do, be sure to send them my way!
Meteorologist Kaylee Wendt on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
If you would like to read more about space weather, more information can be found here.