Northern lights forecast to be visible Wednesday Thursday nights in Michigan

If you didn’t get a chance to see them in May, or the other times that the northern lights have been visible in Michigan, you might be able to see them on Wednesday and Thursday nights.

When this natural phenomenon occurs, it lights up the sky in ribbons of color.

If you want to know where the lights, also known as the aurora borealis, might be visible this week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center has a forecast : the intensity of and location varies and includes most of the Upper Peninsula but could extend farther south.

The Space Weather Prediction Center’s model uses a forecast of geomagnetic activity between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., so there’s no guarantee they will be visible, but it also notes that the lights don’t have to be directly overhead to be seen, they can be visible as far as 600 miles away, “if conditions are right.”

Over the centuries, various cultures have told stories to explain it. Some native American tribes believed it was the creator, lighting a fire to let them know that although he might be far, they were still very much in his thoughts.

In May, Michiganders — and Americans nationwide — posted images of the lights to social media .

More: Northern lights flash, flicker across Michigan skies overnight: See the photos

The lights, which scientists say are caused by charged particles from the sun hitting gasses in the Earth’s atmosphere, tend to wash out in areas near cities, where there is a lot of light pollution. However, a couple of months ago, they were visible throughout metro Detroit.

When that happened, the government issued a rare warning that the solar flares could disrupt communications.

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

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Northern lights forecast to be visible Wednesday Thursday nights in Michigan