If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing the northern lights without leaving Montreal, tonight might be your shot.
According to the latest NOAA aurora forecast, the auroral oval is expected to dip unusually far south on June 4, putting Montreal right on the edge of visibility. While the aurora borealis is typically limited to Canada’s northern regions, strong geomagnetic activity tonight could make it visible much farther south — including parts of southern Quebec.
In fact, cities like Toronto, Ottawa, Quebec City, and Montreal all fall within the official “view line,” meaning there’s a decent chance of spotting a faint glow along the northern horizon — if the skies stay clear.
Red, zones indicate where the aurora is expected to be “more intense.”NOAA
How to boost your chances of seeing them
Spotting the aurora in Montreal requires a bit of planning — but it’s surprisingly doable. Your best bet is to get as far away from light pollution as possible, ideally in a wide-open space with a clear view of the northern sky. Think parks on the outskirts of the city, like Parc-nature du Cap-Saint-Jacques or Parc des Îles-de-Boucherville.
The best viewing window tends to be between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., with peak activity usually closer to midnight. Keep an eye on real-time updates via NOAA’s 30-minute aurora map, which tracks geomagnetic activity and shows how far the aurora is expected to reach.
If you’re trying to boost your chances, the Canadian Space Agency also has northern lights viewing tips.
What you might see
If the skies cooperate, you could spot faint green waves above the northern horizon — though it won’t be the full-sky spectacle often seen in places like Yellowknife or Whitehorse. Still, just seeing a flicker of aurora in Montreal is rare and worth the effort.
While Environment Canada’s forecast calls for clear skies in Montreal tonight, clouds could interfere by early morning, so it’s not a sure thing — but if they clear, you’ll want to have your eyes (and camera) ready.
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