Canadians may have the opportunity to witness a stunning celestial spectacle tonight thanks to a major geomagnetic storm that is expected to increase the brilliance of the Northern Lights.
Government agencies in Canada and the U.S. have issued major geomagnetic storm watches, signalling an atmospheric disturbance that may enhance the visibility of the aurora borealis after dusk.
Maps and charts from the NOAA show storm levels are expected to rise this evening and continue overnight into Oct. 5. The eastern half of Canada can expect to have the best display that could reach as far as southwestern Ontario. If forecasts are accurate, western Canada could also be in for a show, according to the agency.
Space Weather Canada issued a major geomagnetic storm watch through Oct. 4 at 12 p.m. EDT while the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center is forecasting storms through Oct. 6.
The NOAA has classified the storm as a G3, a strong geomagnetic storm. Geomagnetic storms are categorized into five levels according to their severity, ranging from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme).
The predictions come after a powerful solar flare erupted on Oct. 3.
A solar flare is an eruption of energy measured in X-ray flux that can affect ionospheric conditions, particularly at low latitudes on the sun-facing side of the earth, according to Space Weather Canada. The measurement of X-ray flux indicates the intensity of X-ray emissions from the sun over time.
A solar X-ray flare can last from a few minutes to a few hours, the agency said. Long duration flares can last for more than three hours.
This is not the first time geomagnetic storm watches have been issued this year. The storms and anticipated light display marks the fourth time since late May that Canadians have been able to experience this nocturnal event.
A similar solar storm hit the earth’s geomagnetic field on May 10 bringing about the brightest display of the aurora borealis seen in North America in more than 20 years, according to the Weather Network. A second storm hit on May 31, although it didn’t match the brilliance of the night skies during the severe geomagnetic storm earlier that month. A third storm hit at the end of July bringing active auroral sightings.
The astronomical phenomenon known as the northern lights, or aurora borealis, can best be witnessed away from city lights, Space Weather Canada said.
“Generally, the aurora appears a few hours after sunset, when the sky is clear, and tends to become more intense around midnight,” the agency said. “Look all around you, not only north: auroras may appear anywhere in the sky.”
