Canada may be in for another breathtaking natural display tonight as the northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis, are expected to be visible across much of the country.
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a forecast calling for strong aurora activity late Tuesday evening into early Wednesday.
Thanks to a powerful cannibal solar storm, which struck Earth’s magnetic field on September 1, the northern lights could be visible as widespread as Europe, Canada, and the northern United States. While the storm didn’t reach its most extreme forecasted levels, it still treated sky watchers last night to breathtaking auroras in shades of green, pink, and purple, and are likely to reappear this evening.
The storm was classified as a G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storm, and was triggered by a “cannibal CME” which is a phenomenon where one coronal mass ejection (CME) overtakes another on its way to Earth. This interaction often produces stronger solar storms capable of fueling widespread auroras, and tonight is expected to be one of the strongest events of 2025.
Tonight, the auroras are likely to be seen directly overhead in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the territories, and northern parts of Ontario and Quebec. For those of us in southern Ontario, it’s possible to see a glimpse of the aurora low on the horizon – and with dark skies and clear conditions ahead, it’s looking promising!
The display is expected to last most of the night, with the brightest activity predicted between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. eastern time.
To maximize the chance of seeing the northern lights, you’ll want to head out of the city away from urban light pollution and look north. We’ve rounded up a number of the best destinations to see them not far from Toronto here.