Northern Lights Could Light Up the Skies on Halloween Weekends in Canada | The Canadian News

Just in time for Halloween, a potentially colorful light show in the skies.

At the beginning of the week, a solar flare broke out Thursday morning, causing a high-frequency radio blackout in parts of South America.

A solar flare is a powerful blast of radiation and, when it hits Earth’s atmosphere, it has the potential to not only affect technology, but also to create magnificent geomagnetic storms, also known as Northern Lights.

In fact, on Friday afternoon, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a warning that a geomagnetic storm watch It is in effect from October 30 to 31.

NOAA said the clock came from Thursday’s significant solar flare and coronal mass ejection (CME).

“The analysis indicated that the CME left the Sun at a speed of 973 km / s and is forecast to reach Earth on October 30, and the effects will likely continue until October 31,” said the US-based NOAA. And it noted that its DSCOVR satellite will be among the first spacecraft to detect changes in the solar wind in real time, allowing meteorologists to issue appropriate warnings.

“The impacts to our technology from a G3 storm are generally nominal. However, a G3 storm has the potential to push the aurora away from its normal polar residence, and if other factors come together, the aurora could be seen in the far northeast, upper Midwest, and Washington state. “

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In Canada, Space weather Canada is asking stormy intervals for its polar, auroral and subauroral regions.

Additionally, according to the University of Alaska Fairbanks, auroral activity will be high from Inuvik and Yellowknife to Portland, the American Plains and New York.

An Okanagan couple: Jack and Alice Newton, who organize a popular astronomy bed and breakfast – they say it is possible that the light show can be seen as early as Saturday afternoon.

However, they note that display will depend on location and weather, as well as the amount of power remaining from the CME.

The website Spaceweather.com also has more information on this weekend’s Northern Lights, including a gallery of images in real time.

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