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Sky gazers around the Thompson-Okanagan could be in for quite the treat over the next two nights.
However, it will depend on whether Mother Nature wants to behave or not.
The Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, are expected to make an appearance across most of Canada on Monday and Tuesday nights.
Photo Credit: Roman Bartos
The Northern Lights above Kelowna in February 2023.
The Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) claims we will see K-index measurements of seven and five over the next two evenings.
“The K-index, and by extension the Planetary K-index (Kp), are used to characterize the magnitude of geomagnetic storms,” explains the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Any time Kp is measured at five or more it indicates a geomagnetic storm, which means the next two nights, especially Monday, could turn out to be prime viewing for the Northern Lights.
“Auroral activity will be high,” the UAF website says. “Weather permitting, highly-active auroral displays will be visible overhead.”
Photo Credit: Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska Fairbanks
Projected auroral activity for tonight.
The site explains that the Northern Lights could be visible all the way down to Portland on the west coast, with the Thompson-Okanagan appearing to be right in the centre of the action.
Unfortunately, Environment Canada is calling for cloudy conditions across the Thompson-Okanagan over the next two nights, which may put a damper on the show.
We can only hope that the forecast does not come to fruition and we get some clear skies at some point over the next two nights to witness the aurora borealis phenomenon.
If you do manage to capture photos or videos of the Northern Lights over the next two evenings, feel free to send them in to news@nowmediagroup.ca!
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