The Northern Lights as seen just south of Bayfield on May 10th | Photo by Carol Steckle
This is the first time we’ve had a G4 watch since a major geomagnetic storm in May 2024. That storm, ranked as G5, was the strongest since 1989 and lit up the skies with stunning northern lights.
Right now, scientists aren’t exactly sure how strong this storm will be or when it will hit, but it’s expected to arrive around midday Thursday. If that happens, it would be great for North America, as the storm could peak around nightfall.
The northern lights might be visible in many places, including Southern Ontario, and possibly as far south as the Southern US. The best way to see the auroras is by getting away from city lights.
This storm might last a while, so if it arrives on time, we could see northern lights on Thursday night and into early Friday morning. But if it comes later, Friday night might be the best chance. Cloud cover could affect visibility, and Thursday night looks mostly clear in Southern Ontario, though Northern Ontario might have some clouds.
While strong storms like this can impact things like power grids and navigation systems, it’s not expected to cause any major problems this time.
Written by: K. Milhomens
