Northern Lights Visible in Louisiana and Texas This Weekend?

(KMDL-FM) Let's face it, it's been so hot in places like Lufkin, Lafayette, Lake City, and Luling across Texas and Louisiana that the best time to be outside is long after the sun has gone down.

And this weekend, you might have another incentive to want to go outside after dark as portions of Louisiana and Texas could be treated to a "heavenly light show" in the form of the northern lights. Hey, it's happened before. 

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I am sure you are shaking your head as you read that last statement. The northern lights aren't usually a "Southern thing", and when we do have the chance to see them, it's usually during the winter months. The reason for that has less to do with temperature and everything to do with longer nights and shorter days.

What Are The Northern Lights?

The Northern Lights, or auroras as the scientific community calls them, become visible to the human eye when energized particles expelled from the Sun interact with the Earth's magnetic field. This type of interstellar interaction occurs frequently, but most of the time, it remains undetectable.

However, this weekend, NASA scientists say a "coronal mass ejection" from the surface of the sun should arrive near Earth's atmosphere this evening and tomorrow. The resulting geomagnetic storm should produce aurora displays in more than 18 states across the nation.

Of course, the best views will be in the upper Midwest, but space watchers say a geomagnetic storm of this magnitude could and very likely will expand the footprint of where the Northern Lights can be seen.

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Where Will the Northern Lights Be Visible This Weekend?

Some of the forecasts suggest the Northern Lights could be seen as far south as the Gulf Coast, which would include a lot of locations in Louisiana and Texas. Is it a "for sure" thing that we'll see the northern lights this weekend?

No, it's not, but just in case you happen to be outside later tonight or tomorrow and the sky starts turning green, you won't need to call 911 or head straight to church. It's just Mother Nature doing her thing in a way that only she can.