CLEVELAND - A solar eruption from the sun's surface on Tuesday has reached Earth and could provide large areas in the northern hemisphere with an Aurora Borealis.
Cloudy skies are expected here in northeast Ohio that will likely keep the area from seeing this round of Northern Lights, unfortunately.
Cleveland State University Astronomer Jay Reynolds says northeast Ohio has seen some brilliant displays over the past years.
The last visible aurora occurred in October 2011 and lasted about 20 minutes. Reynolds says people near the lakeshore, particularly in Lorain County, were able to see it. He recalls seeing it in downtown Cleveland at Cleveland State.
In January 2004, the Aurora was so bright that heavy cloud cover actually produced a green tint over the lake as the clouds were backlit from the Northern Lights above. That night would have been amazing if skies were clear.
And in September 2003, the northern Ohio area saw a guaranteed aurora that night which was spectacular which Reynolds was able to capture in photo form.
So, keep an eye to the sky tonight and early Friday morning and hope for skies clear long enough to catch a glimpse of one of nature's most spectacular shows.
See the photogallery below for pictures from these past Northern Lights events over northern Ohio and an aurora seen on Saturn's poles from northern Ohio through a telescope in January 2004.
