Aurora Borealis May Light Up Parts of Canada This New Year’s Eve
Canadians might catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights as a geomagnetic storm approaches on December 31
Aurora Borealis, Canada, New Year’s Eve, Geomagnetic Storm, Northern Lights
Vancouver: As we say goodbye to 2023, Canada might just treat us to a stunning light show. The NOAA has put out a watch for a G3 geomagnetic storm on New Year’s Eve.
This storm is expected to hit in the early hours and could stick around into the evening. So, if you’re in the right spot, you might see the Northern Lights dancing in the sky.
Now, geomagnetic storms happen when the sun sends out these huge clouds of charged particles. When they reach Earth, they mess with our magnetic field, creating these beautiful light displays.
On the scale of storms, G3 is pretty strong but not the worst. It’s rare but not unheard of. While it usually doesn’t cause major issues, it can mess with power grids and satellites a bit.
But here’s the catch: to see the aurora, you need a dark sky. So, if you’re in a big city, you might be out of luck. Plus, the weather isn’t looking great for many areas, with clouds expected to roll in.
Your best bet to see the lights will be overnight on Monday. If you’re in coastal British Columbia or the southern Interior, keep your eyes peeled. Folks in southwestern Ontario and the Maritimes might also get lucky, especially in the early morning.
And don’t forget, there’s still a chance to catch the show on Tuesday night in parts of BC and the Maritimes.