Northern lights could be visible in Wisconsin as part of a 'very rare' solar storm this week

Sky watchers could see the northern lights in Wisconsin this week after an eruption of solar material makes its way to Earth. NOAA Space Weather Prediction is predicting a severe storm watch for Thursday into Friday, with conditions subsiding by Saturday.

Watches at this level are very rare. Strong geomagnetic storms can impact infrastructure, potentially disrupting communications, the electric power grid, navigation, radio and satellite operation, according to the NOAA.

Here's what to know about the northern lights forecast and how to see them in Wisconsin.

When could I see the northern lights in Wisconsin?

The northern lights could be visible in Wisconsin during the nights of Oct. 10-11 and subside by Saturday, according to the NOAA.

With these conditions, northern lights could be seen as far south as Alabama and northern California.

Sky watchers will have mostly clear skies on Thursday night in the Milwaukee area, and mostly cloudy skies on Friday night, according to the National Weather Service .

For the most-up-to-date predictions, you can monitor the NOAA aurora forecast tool , where you'll see the prediction for 35 minutes ahead, and you can check the latest weather forecast via the National Weather Service .

What's the science behind northern lights?

Northern lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, are created as a result of solar activity, according to the NOAA.

When particles from a coronal mass ejection arrive to Earth they interact with the planet's magnetic field, causing the northern lights to appear in the sky. Oxygen gives off a green and red light, while nitrogen glows blue and purple.

When northern lights are active, the best time to see them is between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.

Places in Wisconsin to see the northern lights:

Here's a list of places in Wisconsin that could offer some of the best views of the night sky:

• Newport State Park , Ellison Bay
• Driftless Wisconsin
• Harrington Beach State Park
• Kettle Moraine State Forest
• Kohler-Andrae State Park
• Parnell Tower

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Northern lights could be visible in Wisconsin as part of a 'very rare' solar storm this week