It could be a glowing Christmas miracle...of sorts.
The Metro Vancouver weather forecast includes clear skies for one night this weekend and the northern lights are expected to be visible low on the horizon.
While the Lower Mainland has seen a long stretch of wet or at least cloudy weather, the skies are expected to clear on Saturday, Dec. 23.
According to V.I.A.'s Granville Island Weatherhood station, Saturday will be mainly sunny with temperatures climbing to 5 C. Clear skies are expected to bring temperatures down to a chilly 1 C overnight.
While Christmas Eve, Sunday, isn't looking like it will be wet, clouds are expected to roll in overnight ahead of a downpour on Christmas Day that may bring upwards of 40 mm of rain to parts of the Metro Vancouver region.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Space Weather Prediction Center hasn't issued a geomagnetic storm watch but a G1 (minor) one was observed over the past 24 hours, resulting in "occasional loss of radio contact."
Northern lights viewing opportunity possible in Metro Vancouver
According to the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), the aurora borealis will be active on Saturday 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."
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.
Following Saturday, locals aren't expected to have another opportunity to view the northern lights soon.
While the aurora will see some "moderate activity" on Christmas Eve, Sunday, the green glow won't extend far enough south to be visible in the Lower Mainland. The cities furthest south that may be able to view it low on the horizon include "Prince Rupert, Calgary, Minot, Bemidji, Stevens Point, Traverse City, and Quebec City, Canada," according to the UAF.
Find out more northern lights information and viewing tips with our comprehensive guide.
