The Northern Lights can be seen in Illinois, Indiana this week – NBC Chicago

A powerful solar storm will likely allow residents of the upper Midwest to get great glimpses of the Northern Lights later this week, including parts of Illinois and Indiana.

According to the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, the aurora borealis can be visible in areas near Milwaukee and Minneapolis, and they can be visible on the far northern horizon as far south as Chicago and Indianapolis.

in all, 17 countries can potentially See the Northern Lights later this week, according to officials.

The climax of this scene can reach Wednesday evening and into Thursday morning. “Aurora activity will be high,” forecasters say, and those displays can be seen high in the skies from Minneapolis to Milwaukee in the Midwest, and low on the horizon between Lincoln and Indianapolis.

The Kp numbers, which are a representation of the strength of the aurora borealis, show that the scale could reach Kp 6 Wednesday night, which means it will be classified as a geomagnetic storm.

For those seeking to see the aurora borealis, it’s best to find an area away from city lights between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) solar weather forecast service.

Residents must also allow their eyes up to half an hour to adjust to the dark for the best possible vision.

There’s a chance of rain across the upper Midwest on Wednesday night, which could spoil the party, but there is a silver lining. The 11-year solar cycle peaks in 2024, which means that such displays should become stronger and more popular as that date approaches, according to experts.

You can get the latest Forecasts on the UAF website.