The buzz around predictions that a spectacular display of Northern Lights would illuminate the night skies in 17 states this week is fizzling out.

It turns out that predicting the space weather conditions that would allow viewing of the lights, also known as the aurora borealis, south of Canada is notoriously tricky.

Earlier this week, media reports including Smithsonian magazine said information from the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute indicated clear skies could allow the lights to be visible in locations from Montana, Wisconsin, Vermont and even as far south as Annapolis, Maryland.

But now predictions are for the lights to dazzle, as usual, farther north.

Read more from Northeastern Global News.

Photo by AP Photo/Ted S. Warren