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Stunning Northern lights expected tonight and Friday
After a major X-class solar flare erupted from the Sun late on Tuesday, October 1, stargazers are in for another potential treat. Brilliant displays of the Northern Lights may light up skies across Canada tonight and Friday, October 4, as the result of one of the strongest solar flares in recent history.
The flare, an X7.1-class eruption, burst from a fast-growing sunspot named AR3842 and triggered a coronal mass ejection (CME) late Tuesday. This massive solar storm, which involves billions of tons of charged particles from the Sun, is now headed toward Earth. As these particles collide with Earth’s magnetic field, a geomagnetic storm is expected to ignite dazzling auroras across the northern skies.
What Causes This Aurora Show?
Solar flares like the one on October 1 release a surge of ionized plasma, creating a CME that expands across space. These solar storms can sweep up the solar wind and, when they strike Earth, cause disturbances in our planet’s magnetic field. These geomagnetic storms often lead to intensified Northern Lights, visible across Canada and, in some cases, into the northern United States.
Although the CME from Tuesday's flare appears relatively diffuse, it may still produce enough energy to spark a vibrant aurora display. Scientists predict that the solar particles absorbed significant energy from the X7.1-class flare, which could result in colourful lights painting the sky in shades of green, purple, and red.
Aurora Forecast for the Next Few Days
The solar storm is expected to hit Earth sometime on Friday, though there's a chance it could arrive as early as late Thursday or as late as Saturday. NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a Geomagnetic Storm Watch, predicting G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm conditions starting Thursday evening, followed by stronger G2 (moderate) and G3 (strong) conditions overnight.
These G3 conditions will create optimal aurora viewing, especially in central and western Canada, from late Thursday into early Friday. Auroras are most visible around midnight local time, and those in regions with dark, clear skies are likely to get the best views.
The forecast also suggests that a resurgence of aurora activity will occur on Friday night into Saturday, with G2 to G3 geomagnetic storm levels expected once again. This second wave could stretch the auroras across the eastern half of Canada, possibly reaching as far south as southwestern Ontario and into the northeastern United States.
A Solar Cycle Milestone
As of Thursday morning, October 3, the Sun unleashed yet another powerful flare from sunspot AR3842—this time an X9.0-class flare, the strongest of the current solar cycle and the most intense seen since September 2017. It's unclear yet if this flare will produce another CME, but scientists are closely monitoring data from satellites like NASA’s SOHO and the newly launched GOES-19 weather satellite for more details.
The timing of these solar events is especially exciting, as it offers two prime nights for aurora enthusiasts to catch a spectacular light show.
Where and When to Watch
For the best chances to witness the Northern Lights, find a spot away from town lights with a clear view of the northern horizon. In central or western Canada, Thursday night into Friday morning will likely offer the most brilliant display, while Friday night into Saturday morning should favour the eastern half of the country.
While geomagnetic storms can be unpredictable, if conditions align, this aurora display could be one for the ages—similar to the stunning event in May that lit up skies across the country.
Keep your eyes on the sky tonight and Friday night for a chance to witness the breathtaking beauty of the aurora borealis! Stay tuned for more updates as the solar storm continues to unfold.