SPRINGDALE, Ark. — An unusually strong solar storm gave many Arkansans the rare opportunity to see the northern lights here in the Natural State on Friday evening. Many are now wondering if we'll be able to see them again Saturday night; the answer is maybe.
A major disturbance in Earth's magnetic field began Friday and will likely continue into Sunday, according to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC). The result is the northern lights being visible much further south than usual.
As of Saturday morning, the SWPC says "Extreme G5 conditions were observed again, weather permitting the aurora may be visible again tonight."
The 5NEWS Weather Team is currently forecasting partly cloudy skies across Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley, which isn't as ideal as Friday evening's viewing conditions, but could be worse.
Click here for the most up to date 5NEWS weather forecast.
Those who travel away from city light pollution will have more favorable odds of enjoying the lights. It's recommended to find a dark location with higher elevation (mountain ridges, for example) and look to the north.
Many won't see the aurora with the naked eye, but like Friday evening, it's possible to see the immaculate spectacle through cell phone cameras or long-exposure cameras.
Predicting the northern lights is far from an exact science, especially in such rare conditions as this solar storm, so it's not possible to provide precise timing.
Latest guidance from NOAA suggests the best chance to see the lights will be between 4 - 7 AM central time. This is the window in which the KP index is forecast to be "extreme"
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