Where the northern lights will be visible in Ontario

Get ready skywatchers!

Another round of northern lights could be visible across Ontario this weekend.

On Wednesday (Nov. 6), an X2.3 solar flare, classified by NASA as a strong solar event, triggered a geomagnetic storm that could cause minor power grid fluctuations, affect satellite operations and disrupt some radio communications.

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

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.

Southern Ontario might not be as lucky this time around, as the aurora is expected to remain too far north to be seen in areas like Mississauga, Brampton, Halton and Durham. However, residents in these regions enjoyed rare displays earlier this year, with one in May and multiple shows in October.

Regions across northern Ontario, such as Thunder Bay, Kenora and Timmins, are likely to experience visibility with the best viewing times between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., away from city lights.

According to the NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Centre, the northern lights are expected to be visible at higher latitudes, including in parts of the northern United States. Specifically, areas in northern Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Maine may have a chance to observe the aurora borealis.