The Northern Lights may once again illuminate the night skies over Toronto, thanks to a recent geomagnetic storm.
A G4 (severe) storm watch was issued for Thursday by The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in which a “fast coronal mass ejection (CME) erupted from the Sun the evening of 8 October, 2024, and is likely to arrive at Earth on 10 October.”
According to The University of Alaska Fairbanks, the heightened auroral activity raises the odds of an impressive light show, particularly if skies are clear.
Their site states, “auroral displays may be visible overhead from locations such as Inuvik, Yellowknife, Rankin and Iqaluit, Canada, to Carson City, Oklahoma City, Little Rock and Raleigh, U.S.A.; and may be visible low on the horizon from Southern California, Phoenix, Austin, and Montgomery, U.S.A.”
Auroras are ranked using the Kp scale, where 0 means calm and 9 indicates a major geomagnetic storm. For October 10, predictions are set at Kp 8—meaning a very strong storm is on the way.
Auroras are their most vivid around midnight, typically strongest between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. Your best odds of seeing them are out of the downtown city core, as light pollution can make viewing them difficult.
Ontario has several dark sky preserves if you’re up for a road trip, which will provide optimal viewing conditions. Torrance Barrens Dark-Sky Preserve in Gravenhurst is just over a two hour drive from the city.
According to tonight’s forecast, clouds are expected to clear by this evening, so we just might be in luck!