Slight Chance of Northern Lights in Hudson Valley

Predictions in April 2013 of a visit by the Northern Lights (aurora borealis) to the Hudson Valley, NY turned out to be false, but that shouldn’t stop you from checking out the heavens again this evening, Thursday, January 9.

A major solar flare set off Tuesday began radiating the Earth last night and is due to hit Earth’s magnetic field again this evening. There is a a chance the lights may show up in the Hudson Valley this evening, though the odds are they will not.

Aurora borealis creates a green field of light in the night sky that is considered by most observers to be beautiful and enchanting. Normally the light effect can only be seen in the far northern and southern reaches of civilization, but once in a while it travels to the lower 48 states.

As you might expect, the best chance to see the lights are in locations free of street lamps. If there is cloud cover, you are out of luck, as the lights are formed in the upper atmosphere.