Parks in Kent County that are staying open late for Northern Lights viewing

KENT COUNTY, Mich. — The Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a rare G4 Geomagnetic Storm Watch for Wednesday, November 12.

This level of alert is unusual; it’s only the fourth time this solar cycle that such a watch has been issued.

A powerful solar flare, known as a coronal mass ejection (CME), erupted from the sun and is now headed toward Earth. As it reaches our planet, it will interact with Earth’s magnetic field, potentially triggering a severe geomagnetic storm.

The skies look to stay mostly clear through the overnight hours, so there’s a good chance to catch the spectacle, even without a camera, if conditions line up just right.

While it’s often easier to capture the northern lights through a phone camera using a long exposure, this storm may be strong enough for a naked-