Image credit: U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center.
Canadians could witness a spectacular northern lights display this week. Scientists expect a geomagnetic storm to make the aurora borealis visible across much of the country by Friday night. Only parts of Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and some northern islands near Greenland may miss the show.
Where to Look
Forecasters say the clearest view will be in the Prairies, B.C.’s Interior, northern Ontario, Quebec, Labrador, and other northern areas. The rest of the country will also have a strong chance of catching the colourful lights, weather permitting.
What’s Behind the Glow
The event comes from a coronal mass ejection, or CME. This happens when the sun throws out huge amounts of plasma and magnetic energy. The burst can send billions of tons of matter speeding through space at up to 3,000 kilometres per second.
This particular CME left the sun on August 5. Its effects take days to travel the 150 million kilometres to Earth.
Possible Side Effects
When a CME hits Earth’s atmosphere, it can cause a geomagnetic storm. These storms can sometimes disturb power grids, pipelines, and GPS signals. However, scientists say this week’s storm should be mild and mainly offer the bonus of more visible auroras.
An official forecast rates the storm’s intensity at six on a nine-point scale for Friday night. That level falls between “moderate” and “active” in terms of aurora activity.
What to Expect This Weekend
The storm may cause temporary alarms in some power systems and, in rare cases, damage transformers if it lasts long enough. But experts stress that such impacts are unlikely for most people.
By Saturday, the storm is expected to weaken to “minor,” with activity dropping to a five on the aurora scale. The lights will then retreat to more northern skies.
A Sky Show Worth Seeing
This kind of wide-reaching aurora display doesn’t happen often. While northern communities see the lights regularly, southern parts of Canada rarely get such a clear chance. With clear skies and a dark location away from city lights, Friday night could bring a breathtaking show.
