The northern lights are headed for Metro Vancouver, which means it’s time to get those cameras out and take all the pics of one of nature’s most beautiful celestial events.
We cover everything you need to know about spotting the aurora borealis over Metro Vancouver– including when, where, and how to get the best viewing location.
Northern Lights Over Metro Vancouver
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) noted that a G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storm watch has been issued for December 3-4. “A coronal mass ejection (CME) was observed on 01 Dec,” says the website. A CME is an eruption of solar material and magnetic fields, which can then lead to a geomagnetic storm on earth. The result of such storms is the aurora borealis.
According to the NOAA, there is a chance of the aurora borealis to appear over Canada tonight and tomorrow. The map below uses the maximum forecast geomagnetic activity between 6:00pm and 6:00am US Central Time.
Where To See The Aurora Borealis The Best
“Aurora can often be observed somewhere on earth from just after sunset or just before sunrise,” says the NOAA. “The aurora is not visible during daylight hours. The aurora does not need to be directly overhead but can be observed from as much as 1000 km away when the aurora is bright and if the conditions are right.”
Your best chance of spotting the northern lights are in dark areas with clear skies. While a storm is slated to roll into Metro Vancouver tomorrow, precipitation is expected to be minimal. As long as the skies are clear, the aurora should be visible.
Some of the best viewing locations can be found on The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada’s (RASC) recommended sky-watching spots list.
- Aldergrove Regional Park
- Boundary Bay
- Campbell Valley Regional Park
- Cypress Mountain
- David Lam Park
- Hope Slide
- Spanish Banks
- Trottier Observatory at SFU
As long as Metro Vancouver stays mostly clear, those northern lights will be shining overhead on December 3 and 4.
