If clouds cooperate, there’s a chance the northern lights could be visible again Saturday and Sunday nights in metro Detroit. The geomagnetic storm’s colors dazzled Michigan skies, including in the southern part of the state, Friday night.

While Michiganders are used to the northern lights, which are also called the aurora borealis, occasionally appearing in northern Michigan, the metro Detroit sighting was a treat. The National Weather Service called Friday’s storm severe.

And there could be a repeat this weekend. NWS maps predicting the intensity and location of the northern lights Saturday and Sunday show the aurora will be visible in mid to northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.

The green oval on the map indicates where the lights will be visible and the oval turns red where they are forecasted to be more intense. Most of the included Michigan areas are in the green oval, but some parts of the Upper Peninsula are in the red.

More: Michigan dark sky parks, sanctuaries are best spots to see northern lights, stars

The NWS also said the aurora doesn’t have to be directly above an area for it to be visible and can be observed more than 600 miles away when the aurora is bright and weather conditions are right. So, even though the aurora won’t be directly over metro Detroit either night, it’s definitely possible it will be visible in the region.

However, both Saturday and Sunday are predicted to be mostly cloudy with showers and isolated thunderstorms. From 8 p.m. Saturday to 2 a.m. Sunday, the NWS is predicting sky cover ranging from 48-58% in metro Detroit. It drops to 34% at 5 a.m. The west side of both peninsulas will have a lower percentage of cover during the same time periods.

The sky cover percentage in metro Detroit looks better for Sunday night with a range of 31-44% coverage between 8 p.m. Sunday to 2 a.m. Monday.

Overview

8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily

The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear will return to the Streets of Downtown Detroit, May 31-June 2, 2024. The event will include the Chevrolet INDYCAR Grand Prix featuring the cars of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, the GTP and the GTD PRO classes of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the rising stars of racing competing in INDY NXT by Firestone. The event is collectively referred to as the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear. The Detroit Grand Prix is a 501(c)3 organization and a subsidiary of the Downtown Detroit Partnership.

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (FOX 2) – Loved ones of a Detroit Police Department sergeant killed by her domestic partner in 2019, are livid with the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.

A plea reduction deal reduced her killer’s sentence to three years of probation. The decision was seismic for the loved ones of Sgt. Elaine Willaims, who have been waiting and hoping for justice ever since 2019.

“It has not been easy,” said Bodashia Grimm, a family friend.

Sgt Williams was a member of the Detroit Police Department for 14 years.

In June of 2019, the mother of two was shot and killed by her domestic partner, Eddie Ray Jr. Johnson.

“He was released from jail around COVID and he’s been out since then,” Grimm said.

But on Friday, the family and friends of Williams received another blow.

Johnson’s plea reduction came with a sentence agreement of three years probation. It comes after Johnson entered a plea of no contest to manslaughter.

“Now to hear about this plea deal that went from first-degree premeditated murder down to manslaughter is just a punch in the gut,” she said. “It’s gut-wrenching.”

Sgt Williams and Johnson had been out on the evening of June 2nd. And both had been drinking, but when they returned to their Garden City home they had an argument.

Man who killed Detroit police sergeant girlfriend gets probation after self-defense claim

Johnson was seen leaving the house with a gunshot wound. But when police entered the home Williams was dead.  

The gun involved in the incident had been issued to Williams during her employment with DPD. He claimed the incident was self-defense.

“To me this opens up the door for other murders in the community that Kim Worthy will offer deals to,” Grimm said.

In a statement, Wayne County Prosecutor Kim Worthy said in part:

“In this case, where both parties were shot with the same gun, the order of events is open to multiple interpretations,” she said. “Considering our burden of proof, we believe this is an appropriate resolution. The decision to offer this plea to this defendant was not what we wanted to do, but it was the just thing to do,”

Grimm isn’t buying it.

“How could there be any confusion if you don’t have enough evidence?” she said. “Elaine is no longer here. Her children no longer have a mother.”

Detroit Police Chief James White also offered a statement which reads in part:

“This plea deal is not the outcome that the DPD wanted for Sgt. Williams’ loved ones, but we understand the unique circumstances of this case and therefore accept the prosecutor’s decision.”

Those who support Williams say they’re now focused on supporting her kids and encouraging them to not lose faith in the justice system.

“I would like Kim Worthy to step down as a prosecutor,” said Grimm. “Wayne County can do better. She make deals with the devil.”