If you’re lucky, the skies over Greater Victoria could put on a rare and dazzling show tonight (May 29).
The northern lights – that surreal curtain of green and red that usually belongs to the far north – may make an appearance across parts of southern B.C., including Vancouver Island.
But before grabbing your camera and heading for the hills, keep in mind there is no guarantee. Conditions need to line up just right, and even then, there’s no promise the aurora will show.
A potential sighting is due to a G3 (Strong) geomagnetic storm, recorded early Thursday morning (May 29) by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), as well as by the Government of Canada’s Magnetic Activity Review and Forecast.
The cause? A blast of charged particles from the sun – spewed during a solar flare – that’s now colliding with Earth’s magnetic field. When these storms hit, they can light up the night sky with spectacular colour. If you're under or near the auroral extent line and skies are clear, it's worth looking north.
And that’s the big if: clear skies. According to The Weather Network, Greater Victoria could see cloud cover clear up between midnight and 3 a.m. on Friday (May 30), making that narrow window the best shot for a light show.
For the best chance at catching the aurora borealis – if it does appear – head somewhere dark, far from the glow of streetlights and houses.
Suggested local viewing spots include Island View Beach, Mount Tolmie, Cattle Point, Mount Douglas (PKOLS), and Esquimalt Lagoon. And remember to look to the northern horizon. Even with strong geomagnetic activity, the lights might not be directly overhead.
The SWPC has warned of intermittent impacts to satellite navigation, GPS, and even slight power fluctuations, though infrastructure operators have been alerted and are taking precautions.
The ongoing solar activity is expected to continue into Friday, with the KP index – a measure of geomagnetic activity – currently sitting at 7, which falls under the 'Strong' category.
SWPC's aurora forecast for North America shows a “viewline” that stretches unusually far south – meaning that depending on timing and clarity, people across much of B.C. could have a front-row seat to a normally far-northern phenomenon. In past events of this strength, the aurora has been visible as far south as Oregon and Illinois.
Still, experts stress this is only a prediction, not a promise. The aurora might not appear at all in Greater Victoria. But with the conditions lining up, it’s a chance skywatchers in the region don’t often get.
If you’re planning to go out, bundle up, stay safe, and don’t forget to look up – the sky might just surprise you.
