Some Canadians could see northern lights this week & here’s when and where to look up

Have some time to take a nap this afternoon? Get snoozin’ because you’ll want to be well-rested before the sun goes down!

A collision of charged particles from our sun and the Earth’s atmosphere, the Northern Lights are often visible to those living in the Northern Hemisphere.

Every once in a while, however, the lights are pushed down and out, giving those further away from the Earth’s poles a better seat for the natural phenomenon.

This week, some Canadian cities will have a pretty good chance to see them as they dance from coast to coast – but there are a few things of note before heading out.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a G1 geomagnetic storm watch has been issued for Wednesday, March 20th and Thursday, March 21st, 2024.

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Visibility will depend on where you are and whether you have a clear sky or not, but if both of these things align – look up!

“Auroral activity will be high,” writes the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. 

“Highly active auroral displays will be visible overhead from Inuvik, Yellowknife, Rankin and Iqaluit to Juneau, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay and Sept-Iles, and visible low on the horizon from Seattle, Des Moines, Chicago, Cleveland, Boston, and Halifax.”

Nothing is promised, but things are looking pretty good if you’re in the above areas. Who knows you could be among the lucky ones!

Good luck, bring snacks, remember to tag us in your Northern Lights photos in your photos and enjoy!