The reason behind the dry spell was the constant cloudy weather, which also rained on our collective parades when several meteor showers came to town.
The good news is, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting several days of nonstop auroras. This helps increase our chances of actually seeing them.
The days that NOAA says are most favorable for auroras next week are overnight into Monday and again on Wednesday. The prior of the two is the better day, with high activity likely.
Northern Lights In Kiruna
This is due to a massive X2.7 solar flare that erupted from the sun on Wednesday. It is certainly powerful enough to trigger a CME (coronal mass ejection) that would make the lights viewable.
But if these dates turn out to be a bust due to cloud cover, Central New York has an even greater chance of seeing the Northern lights at the end of the month.
NOAA says heavy auroral activity is expected Wednesday, May 28, through Sunday, June 1.
The Aurora Borealis, Or Northern Lights, Visible From Large Swath Of North America
Based on maps by the Geophysical Institute at University of Alaska Fairbanks, the view line for all five dates firmly encompasses all of New York.
Drastically increasing our chances is the new moon, which will make the skies clearer for us to see something.
While this show isn't currently forecasted to be mightier than what happened last May, it'll still expected to be a beautiful sight.
The strongest Northern Lights display in 20 years didn't disappoint. At least not in the spots where skies were cloud-free. Check out some of the best shot from across the state and beyond.
Gallery Credit: Credit - Polly McAdams
Shane Muckey captured stunning pictures of the Northern Lights in the Adirondacks.
Gallery Credit: Credit - Polly McAdams
