• Home
  • News
    • UP 200
    • Local
    • Lansing Bureau
    • Washington D.C. Bureau
    • National
    • Insights
    • Watch 19 News Live
    • CBS News Live
    • Report News
  • Weather
    • Forecast + Conditions
    • Current Alerts
    • Interactive Radar
    • Cameras
    • Share Photos/Videos
    • Closings and Delays
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Life in the 906
    • The Yooper Goddess
WZMQ 19 News | CBS | MeTV Marquette
Mostly Cloudy

Marquette
Mostly Cloudy 86°

Escanaba
32°

Clear

Houghton
Clear 75°

Clear

Iron Mountain
Clear 88°

Watch
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • UP 200
    • Local
    • Lansing Bureau
    • Washington D.C. Bureau
    • National
    • Insights
    • Watch 19 News Live
    • CBS News Live
    • Report News
  • Weather
    • Forecast + Conditions
    • Current Alerts
    • Interactive Radar
    • Cameras
    • Share Photos/Videos
    • Closings and Delays
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Life in the 906
    • The Yooper Goddess
WZMQ 19 News | CBS | MeTV Marquette
No Result
View All Result
WZMQ 19 News | CBS | MeTV Marquette
No Result
View All Result

1 Weather Alert

View Details »

Sun cycle peak expected in 2025 may bring more northern lights

by Mitchell Rife
May 17, 2023 - Updated on May 18, 2023
A A

MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – The aurora borealis is a sight to behold and in the Upper Peninsula, it seems like we’ve seen it a lot more lately. The northern lights are seen typically in the wintertime with a dark enough sky, but there is certainly more than just a clear sky that can cause the peculiar amount of auroras. “The sun sends heat and lights our way but also energy electromagnetic energy and also electrified gasses,” said UP Meteorologist Karl Bohnak.

The solar winds are energy surges that flow from the sun, and every so often there are solar storms. These storms can hit the earth and our magnetic field blocks a majority of the ejection, the rest flows onto the north and south poles which is where visible streaks of the aurora borealis like the UP saw in early spring, could be visible.

“If the conditions are right. If the energy coming in is strong enough we end up getting auroras where these gasses interact with oxygen and nitrogen and produce the beautiful auroras that we see,” continued Bohnak.

When the energy actually hits the earth, the gasses from the storm can mix the colors of the northern lights. A higher level of oxygen may result in green or red lights and if there’s nitrogen available you’ll end up getting purple or blue auroras, but because we are heading into summer there may be fewer sightings.

“The challenge we have now that were heading into the late spring is we have a much shorter time where it’s dark at night,” commented National Weather Service Meteorologist Matt Zika.

Karl noted that astronomers have said that fall is the best time to see auroras, even though the lights are highly dependent on the cycle of the sun and not the change in season. “They’re not exactly sure why but that’s what they say. The sun has been very quiet over the last couple of decades actually,” continued Bohnak.

“Now the sun storminess is essentially building up to its peak which will probably happen sometime around 2025,” continued Zika.

The sun’s cycles are roughly 11 years long and 2025 is when it’s expected to reach its peak. The national weather service said this peak can result in more intense solar storms even in early spring or summer.

Click here for more information on the National Weather Service.

Click here for the National Weather Service solar viewing website.

Get WZMQ 19 anytime, anywhere

Download the app

AppleAndroid

Watch on TV

RokuFire TVZeam

Connect on social media

FacebookTwitterInstagram

More

News

MSP recommends ways to prevent vehicle theft

July 15, 2025
News

Democrats Criticize Budget Delays as Michigan House Cancels Session

July 15, 2025
News

Fair Food Network brings Double Up Food Bucks to Marquette to support healthy eating, local farmers

July 15, 2025
Courtesy: Lake Superior Community Partnership
News

Youngs Menswear expands to Marquette with grand opening celebration

July 15, 2025
Visit Keweenaw presents Markkanen with award at Mount Bohemia. Photo courtesy of Visit Keweenaw
News

Rep. Greg Markkanen named 2025 Visit Keweenaw Tourism Champion

July 15, 2025
News

Michigan Representative Advocates for State-Based Universal Healthcare Act in Washington

July 15, 2025
Next Post

Hooked Up Charters shows us how to catch Coho Salmon

What Goes into Setting Bonds

  • Home
  • News
  • Weather
  • Sports
  • Features
  • Events
  • Programming
  • Station
WZMQ CBS | 19 News

© 2025 WZMQ, LLC | FCC Public File | EEO Report

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • UP 200
    • Local
    • Lansing Bureau
    • Washington D.C. Bureau
    • National
    • Insights
    • Watch 19 News Live
    • CBS News Live
    • Report News
  • Weather
    • Forecast + Conditions
    • Current Alerts
    • Interactive Radar
    • Cameras
    • Share Photos/Videos
    • Closings and Delays
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Life in the 906
    • The Yooper Goddess
  • Events
  • Programming
    • Programming Guide
    • CBS
    • MeTV
    • Start TV
    • Heroes & Icons
    • Court TV
    • ION
  • Station
    • About Us
    • Community Involvement
    • Mobile App
    • Meet the Team
    • Contact
    • Careers
    • Advertising
    • Request Copy of Story
    • FCC Public File
    • EEO Report
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • UP 200
    • Local
    • Lansing Bureau
    • Washington D.C. Bureau
    • National
    • Insights
    • Watch 19 News Live
    • CBS News Live
    • Report News
  • Weather
    • Forecast + Conditions
    • Current Alerts
    • Interactive Radar
    • Cameras
    • Share Photos/Videos
    • Closings and Delays
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Life in the 906
    • The Yooper Goddess
  • Events
  • Programming
    • Programming Guide
    • CBS
    • MeTV
    • Start TV
    • Heroes & Icons
    • Court TV
    • ION
  • Station
    • About Us
    • Community Involvement
    • Mobile App
    • Meet the Team
    • Contact
    • Careers
    • Advertising
    • Request Copy of Story
    • FCC Public File
    • EEO Report
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our privacy policy.