Locals may have a handful of opportunities to view the northern lights this week thanks to clear skies and stormy solar activity.
The Metro Vancouver weather forecast includes several sunny, bluebird days with temperatures climbing as high as 15 C on Friday, March 17. While the nights will be substantially cooler, with temperatures dipping down to the freezing mark overnight Wednesday, the clear skies will provide the ideal conditions for viewing the dancing lights.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a G-1 minor geomagnetic storm warning for Wednesday, March 15, and Thursday, March 16.
On Wednesday, the auroral activity is expected to be active, with displays possible overhead from "Inuvik, Yellowknife, Rankin and Iqaluit to Juneau, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Sept-Iles, and visible low on the horizon from Vancouver, Great Falls, Pierre, Madison, Lansing, Ottawa, Portland and St. Johns," according to the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF),
The university's online aurora monitor map shows what regions the aurora's green glow will likely reach, as well as other areas where there is less of a possibility. Additionally, there is a brief description below the map of the aurora activity on that particular day. You can switch to other days to see the forecast, too.
Metro Vancouver weather forecast may provide several northern lights viewing opportunities
On Thursday, locals may have an even higher chance of viewing the northern lights, as the UAF expects auroral activity will be "high" and its viewing map shows its glow reaching much further south.
Highly active auroral displays may be visible overhead from places up north such as Inuvik and Iqaluit down to Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Thunder Bay in Ontario, as well as places south of the border including Seattle, Chicago, Cleveland, and Boston.
There will be a final viewing opportunity this week on Friday, when auroral activity is expected to be "high." If the forecast holds up, highly active auroral displays may be visible in the Metro Vancouver region.
The UAF's map shows the aurora's green glow reaching the same cities in the U.S., dipping down south of the border to Seattle, Des Moines, Chicago, Cleveland, Boston, and Halifax.
Light pollution in large cities makes the aurora borealis difficult to observe, but not impossible, given the right circumstances. But your best bet for viewing that hypnotic green glow is up north or outside of the city.
Find out more northern lights information and viewing tips with our comprehensive guide.
