A solar storm is predicted this weekend, which means there might be some power grid fluctuations — and, if you are lucky, the Northern Lights might be visible in parts of Michigan.

You'll be able to look into the dark night, away from the city, and see the ethereal phenomenon known as the northern lights and aurora borealis.

Splashes of color — pinks, greens, yellows, blues, violets and occasionally oranges and whites — will dance among shimmering stars.

The best possibility of catching a glimpse of the lights is on Saturday, according to the Nation Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which monitors the atmosphere, and is forecasting a geomagnetic storm, also known as a solar storm.

The weather forecast throughout most of Michigan calls for sunny skies during the day Saturday and mostly clear skies that night, optimal for potential northern lights viewing.

The lights also might be visible Sunday, but less so.

Auroras occur when particles of plasma from the sun travel through space toward Earth and tend to be drawn to the poles, scientists say.

Usually, the northern lights are more visible in places like Alaska, Canada and Norway.

But, NOAA said, the geomagnetic storm could make them visible at lower latitudes, from Wisconsin to New York.

The lights also, according to scientific publications, are more common close to equinoxes, like now, when days and nights are the same length and more particles interact with the atmosphere.

Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com.

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