Canadians may want to keep one eye on the sky from Thursday night into early Friday, as the northern lights could make an unusually far-reaching appearance thanks to a burst of activity from the sun.
NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a G3 strong geomagnetic storm watch for the period, with its latest three-day forecast calling for the greatest expected Kp level to reach 7. Some forecasts suggest conditions could briefly reach G4 strength if the storm hits harder than expected; either way, this means that solar activity could be strong enough to push the northern lights much farther south than usual, putting parts of Canada on aurora watch.
This also gives Southern Ontario at least a small chance of seeing a light show if conditions line up. You likely won’t see anything from downtown Toronto, so your best bet is to get away from city lights, head somewhere north of the GTA and find a spot with a clear view of the northern horizon.
For instance, if you’re in Muskoka, head to the dark sky preserve at Torrance Barrens. For other ideas, check out our list here.
If the geomagnetic storm performs near the stronger end of the forecast, people in darker areas north of the GTA may have a chance of spotting a faint glow or vertical pillars low on the northern horizon.
For those interested in the somewhat nerdy science behind the northern lights: according to NOAA, the sun is constantly throwing off charged particles through space. During stronger solar storms, more of those particles can reach Earth and interact with the planet’s magnetic field. That energy helps accelerate particles into the upper atmosphere near the poles, where they collide with oxygen and nitrogen and release light, creating those misty, shimmering wisps and curtains across the sky we know as the aurora! Green and pink are the most common aurora colours, while reds, blues and purples can also show up, depending on which gases are hit and at what altitude.
If you’re hoping to catch the lights tonight, keep your eyes on the northern horizon. The best aurora is typically seen between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. away from city lights.
