Minnesota
Northern Lights in MN: Wildfire smoke could make the aurora difficult to see
Freckle-like sunspots visible, Northern Lights tonight
Wildfire smoke is acting as a sun filter, making cool and dark regions on the sun’s surface more visible. These freckle-like sunspots are also creating opportunities to view the Northern Lights on Sunday night, but the hazy air could obstruct the view.
(FOX 9) – The Northern Lights are expected to be visible Sunday night, but haze from wildfire smoke might spoil the show for Minnesota.
Northern Lights forecast
What we know:
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is forecasting a severe (G4) level geomagnetic storm on Sunday evening. Geomagnetic storms are what fuel the aurora and a G4 is the second-strongest level of storm.
The NOAA forecast shows the aurora could be visible as far south as central Iowa.
Northern lights in Vadnais Heights, Minnesota, on Oct. 10, 2024. (Photo submitted by Danny) (Supplied)
Best viewing times for the aurora
What’s next:
Typically, the best times to view the aurora are around the midnight hour. It appears that’s about the time the storm will be at its strongest in the overnight hours.
Smoke will likely hamper aurora visibility
The other side:
Unfortunately for Minnesota, smoke from wildfires burning in Canada has made skies hazy across the state, and particularly in areas to the north.
While it might not be impossible to see the aurora, FOX 9 meteorologist Ian Leonard compares it to a foggy morning. He says it is worth taking a look in your area, to see if you can spot anything, but it’s probably not worth traveling a far distance to seek out the aurora.
Much of Minnesota is under an unhealthy air quality alert due to smoke.
Tips for viewing the Northern Lights
What you can do:
The NOAA recommends the following tips for the best chance to see the Northern Lights.
- It’s generally better to go north (but with the smoke, that might not be the case tonight).
- Go to areas with less light pollution. You can use this map to find the best spots near you.
- Spring and fall are often the best times to see the aurora, because “the subtleties in the way the solar wind interacts with Earth’s magnetosphere” can create larger geomagnetic storms.
Minnesota
Christian Fitzgerald nets second hat trick of season, Wisconsin hockey beats Minnesota in Big Ten opener
MADISON – It took 734 days and seven meetings, but the Wisconsin men’s hockey team finally got the best of its border rival.
The Badgers snapped a six-game winless streak against the Gophers on Thursday Oct. 30 with a 5-2 victory at the Kohl Center in the Big Ten opener.
Wisconsin, which is ranked No. 14, in the USCHO poll, extended its unbeaten streak to open the season to seven games. With a 5-0-2 record the Badgers are off to their best start since the 2000-01 season when they started 7-0.
Senior forward Christian Fitzgerald recorded his second hat trick of the season, while seniors Ben Dexheimer and Kyle Kukkonen made two assists. Nine plays in all scored a point for the Badgers.
No. 18 Minnesota, which dropped its third straight game, fell to 2-6-1.
Five of the seven goals in the game were scored in the second period.
Sophomore Logan Hensler scored what proved to be the game-winner at the 11:56 mark of that period off a pass from Kukkonen to give UW a 3-2 edge.
Fitzgerald’s performance allowed him to surpass last season’s goal total. It was also his second multi-goal game of the season. He had a hat trick in the second game at Lindenwood.
He gave UW a 1-0 lead at the 5:26 mark of the second period and pushed the Badgers’ lead to 4-2 at the 2:19 of the third period. He completed the hat trick with an empty net goal with 75 seconds left.
Check jsonline later for more on the game.
The Gophers host Michigan State at Huntington Bank Stadium this Saturday. At 0-5 in conference play, the Spartans have been one of the most disappointing teams in the Big Ten, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t still dangerous. Here are five key matchups for this week’s game.
Marsh has a strong argument for being the best player on Michigan State. Listed at 6-foot-3, 203 pounds, he has 46 catches for 479 yards and five touchdowns, which are all team highs. The Gophers’ cornerbacks struggled against California, Rutgers and Ohio State, but they’ve responded against Purdue, Nebraska and Iowa over the last three weeks. With John Nestor’s status up in the air, Za’Quan Bryan and the rest of Minnesota’s corners will need to step up.
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Over the last two weeks, Minnesota has faced No. 2 and No. 8 pass defenses in the country. Lindsey has completed 66.6% of his passes for 131 yards per game with two total touchdowns and three interceptions. He has a great opportunity to get back on track this week against Michigan State’s 87th-ranked unit, which has allowed 230.8 yards per game through the air. With Darius Taylor’s status up in the air, Lindsey might need to have a big game.
Michigan State’s starting quarterback, Aidan Chiles, struggled last week, completing 50% of his passes for only 130 yards and one rushing touchdown. He has been pretty up and down all season, and there haven’t been any signs that imply that the Spartans would make a change at the position, but they’re 0-5 in conference play. If they make a move, it would likely be for freshman Alessio Milivojevic, who has looked good in garbage time. This could be something that completely changes the game if Michigan State makes a surprise decision.
After a breakthrough performance against Nebraska, Minnesota’s offensive line reverted to its old ways against the Hawkeyes. They will face a far less daunting Michigan State defensive front this week. The Spartans’ 14 sacks rank 88th-best as a team, and their 149.4 rushing yards per game rank 76th-best. The Gophers have an opportunity on Saturday to get their confidence back.
The Gophers haven’t lost back-to-back games all season, but they might face their toughest challenge to avoid that happening this week against the Spartans. It’s hard to find many things on paper where Michigan State has a huge advantage over Minnesota, which makes this game even more sneaky. The Gophers badly need to respond emotionally after last week’s beatdown in Iowa City.
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