Multiple Coronal Mass Ejections are heading toward Earth. This has caused the Space Weather Prediction Center to issue a strong geomagnetic storm watch.

A Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) is a swath of magnetic energy shot out of the sun. When this energy hits Earth’s upper atmosphere it can produce northern lights.

This G3 strong geomagnetic storm watch means we could have northern lights in Michigan. The northern lights would happen in at least the Upper Peninsula and the northern half of Lower Michigan.

Of course we need at least mostly clear skies to also see the northern lights. We also need the mass of energy to hit the upper atmosphere during our night.

The first step toward seeing northern lights is to figure out when the energy mass will hit Earth. While the Space Weather Prediction Center has upped the strength of the geomagnetic storm watch from moderate to strong, they haven’t updated the expected timing of the energy’s arrival.

Below is the forecast of the energy arrival. The highest Kp Index is forecast to occur between 2 a.m. and 11 a.m. tonight into Wednesday. Remember this is not an updated forecast as of 6 p.m. today.

Kp Index forecast shows highest Kp Index at 5 to 6 between 2 a.m. and 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 16NOAA

The good news on cloud cover is there should be some clearing as we go through tonight. The clearing will occur across the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Michigan, which is exactly where the northern lights could occur.

Cloud forecast at 5 a.m. Wednesday, April 16, 2025NOAA

If you are looking for northern lights, the most energy is expected after 2 a.m. You’ll want to be at least as far north as Leelanau County, Old Mission Peninsula, Kalkaska and northward. This is the region where mostly clear skies will also develop tonight.

We will watch for updates from the Space Weather Prediction Center. We might not get a meaningful update before the CMEs hit Earth’s atmosphere.

Set your alarm for 2 a.m. in northern Michigan if you want to finally see northern lights.