If the skies are clear in your community tonight, there’s a decent chance you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks’ aurora forecast shows that the Planetary K-index (Kp) will be at six from 8 pm until 2 am PT.
It’ll be even higher at seven during parts of the day today, but unfortunately it won’t mean much when it’s still bright and sunny out.
Used to characterize the magnitude of geomagnetic storms, any Kp measurement of five or more indicates a storm that’s significant enough to produce a Northern Lights display.
The university says that “high(+) aurora activity” is forecasted, and the Northern Lights could be seen in the southernmost areas of the British Columbia mainland.
As mentioned in the opening line, the key to seeing the Northern Lights, or aurora borealis as it’s known in scientific circles, will be the weather.
Clear skies are the golden ticket to seeing the dazzling light display, while clouds will put a serious damper on your viewing experience.
Another tip to get the best view of the Northern Lights, if the skies are clear, is to get as far away as possible from city lights.
Finally, if you’re never sought out the Northern Lights before, know that they are very hard to see with the naked eye if you’re not in the far north.
If conditions are right, you’ll likely be able to see a faint, milky glow from the phenomenon, but your phone camera will be the key to truly seeing the colours on full display!
