SPOKANE, Wash.– There’s a good chance for the Inland Northwest to see the aurora starting Thursday night.
Scientists at the Space Weather Prediction Center tracked two large solar flares lighting up the sun on Wednesday and Thursday. These were some of the strongest flares in about seven years according to the SWPC.
Both of these flares coincided with Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), which are eruptions of material from the sun. This is what creates the northern lights when these eruptions collide with Earth’s magnetic field.
The first CME will arrive as soon as Thursday night. When it does, the aurora may be visible for an extended period along the northern horizon. At times, bursts of activity may create brighter aurora that are visible further south, higher in the sky, and in places with more light pollution (i.e. in Spokane).
Odds remain good for more lights this weekend as the second CME arrives at some point on Friday or Saturday. That means there are three nights in a row where aurora is a strong possibility.
If you see the northern lights, we want to see your photos! Submit them to our email news4@kxly.com or the Facebook page.
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