A dazzling Northern Lights display could be visible from Vancouver this week

It looks like the Northern Lights have asked Vancouver to be their ‘Valentine’ this week, and there’s a good chance the city says yes! According to the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), “high aurora activity” is forecasted for the end of the week, with preferable weather a strong possibility.

As local astronomer Dr. Rosanna Tilbrook noted last month, the sun is currently in its ‘solar maximum,’ or a period of heightened activity. The cycle repeats around every 11 years, leading to more frequent and powerful auroral displays—visible from further south than usual.

So grab your warm layers and don’t forget to snap a pic with long exposure!

High auroral activity

According to the UAF, “high aurora activity” is forecasted for Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. This means there’s a solid chance of viewing the Northern Lights from Vancouver.

“If skies are clear, highly active auroral displays may be visible overhead from locations such as Inuvik, Yellowknife, Rankin and Iqaluit, Canada, to Juneau, Alaska, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay and Sept-Iles, Canada; and may be visible low on the horizon from Seattle, Des Moines, Chicago, Cleveland and Boston, U.S.A., and Halifax, Canada,” reads the forecast.

The forecasted displays are estimated to have a ‘planetary K index’ of 5, which indicates a minor geomagnetic storm, according to Dr. Tilbrook. While these are fairly common, it’s always worth looking up to the skies the night of a forecasted display, because you never know what you can capture with just your phone alone.

The 27-day and 3-day forecasts can both be unreliable, though accuracy is far more likely with the latter. So make sure you check back later in the week for the most up-to-date forecast via the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Weather forecast & viewing

It’s a beautiful sunny week ahead, with clear skies forecasted for Monday, Feb. 10 to Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. According to Environment Canada, there may be a few “cloudy periods” during Thursday night – but that seems to be the extent of any obstruction to the auroral displays. Fingers crossed it stays that way!

Ready to scope out a low-light area for the best chances of viewing? Some prime stargazing spots around the city include Stanley Park, Locarno Beach, Spanish Banks, Lighthouse Park, and Burnaby Mountain Park.

Happy viewing!

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