Vancouver could see Northern Lights this week

Much of British Columbia, including Vancouver, may be able to see the Northern Lights over the next couple of nights.

According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), electromagnetic activity in the region could result in Aurora Borealis being visible as far south as Seattle, Wash., Wednesday overnight into Thursday.

The agency says the green, red, and purple lights may be seen low on the horizon in southwestern B.C., but adds city lights may impact the visibility of the phenomenon.

A map of North America showing where the Northern Lights will be visible on Wednesday night. (Photo via NOAA)

The peak time to see the celestial light show, according to NOAA, will be around 11 p.m. on Wednesday, when the geomagnetic activity will be at a level five on a scale up to 10. The hours leading up to and after that time also have ratings of level four.

The forecast for Wednesday evening shows mainly clear skies in much of the Lower Mainland.

The agency says auroras are caused when solar winds interact with the Earth’s magnetic field, creating bright, waving colours that are often seen near the planet’s north and south poles. Occasionally, a larger solar storm can cause the lights to be seen further south.