Toronto, keep your eyes to the sky tonight and tomorrow evening, as another dazzling northern lights display is expected to light up the night sky across most of Canada and even parts of the northern United States this week!
On June 25 and 26, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is calling for a strong chance of a widespread aurora borealis event, due to a “large coronal hole on the sun releasing a high-speed stream of charged particles”.
The geomagnetic storm may push the aurora oval much farther south than usual, making the northern lights visible in southern regions such as Ontario, where we typically would not be able to see the auroras.
The NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) has forecasted a Kp index of 5.67 for the event, which measures geomagnetic activity on a scale from 0 to 9.
For your best viewing chances, you’ll want to head out of the city to avoid light pollution and find a clear, north-facing view of the horizon between midnight and the early morning hours.
Unfortunately, the skies look partly cloudy tonight, not making for optimal conditions; however, you may still be able to catch a glimpse if you’re lucky!