The Northern Lights could be visible over much of Canada tonight, and even Torontonians might have a chance at spotting them if the clouds clear at the right time.
According to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, geomagnetic storm conditions are possible on Friday night into Saturday morning due to recent solar activity. The forecast shows activity reaching around the G2 (or moderate storm) level, which can sometimes make auroras visible farther south than usual. This means that parts of Canada could be in for a beautiful sky show, with misty, shimmering wisps and curtain-like displays possible, especially in darker and more northern areas!
The best chances will likely be in northern Canada, northern Ontario, northern Quebec, Labrador, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the territories. For Toronto, it’s possible. Southern Ontario as a whole isn’t in the strongest viewing zone, but if geomagnetic conditions hold up, the sky is clear, and you can get away from bright city lights at the right moment, there’s still a chance of spotting a faint glow.
The best time to look will be between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. (perhaps a bit closer to midnight), once the sky is fully dark. Face north and look for a faint greenish, grey or white glow low on the horizon. Your phone camera might pick up more colour than the naked eye, especially with night mode or a longer exposure.
If you can, head to the waterfront or open-sky spots like Humber Bay Park, Colonel Samuel Smith Park, the Toronto Islands, the Scarborough Bluffs area, or one of the darker edges of the GTA or rural areas north of the city.
The most promising road-trip option is Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Reserve near Gravenhurst, which is known for dark skies and wide-open views, but it’s about two hours from Toronto. For more viewing inspo, check out the five best places to stargaze near Toronto and the best places in southern Ontario to see the Northern Lights.