Northern Lights could be visible in Ontario this weekend

If you didn’t get a chance to catch the spectacular and colourful northern lights on Friday—you’re in luck—there’s another opportunity to see them tonight across Ontario.

On Thursday (Oct. 3), the sun unleashed its biggest solar flare since 2017—a powerful X9.05-class eruption. Space.com reported that the flare briefly caused radio blackouts over parts of Africa and Europe and was followed by a coronal mass ejection (CME) aimed directly at Earth.

The flare came from sunspot group AR3842, which had already produced strong solar activity earlier in the week, scientists say.

NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Centre notes that this CME, combined with an earlier one, has triggered strong geomagnetic storms. These geomagnetic storms are classified using a G-scale — G5 is the most extreme to G1 minor.

NOAA’s maps show where northern lights will be visible in North America.

The Weather Network predicts the storms this weekend scould reach G3 (strong) levels, generating auroras visible across much of Canada and parts of the northern United States.

This phenomenon occurs when charged particles from solar storms collide with Earth’s atmosphere, exciting atoms and causing them to emit light. EarthSky.org explains that the Northern Lights, also known as the aurora borealis, usually appear near the poles, but heightened solar activity can make them visible further south.

Forecasts indicate the best viewing opportunities will be across the Prairies, northern Ontario, Quebec, and the Yukon, with potential sightings as far south as the northern U.S. Ideal conditions could last throughout Saturday night as solar activity continues.

Skywatchers should note the best chances to catch this rare treat will be after midnight and away from city lights.