The intensity of this weekend’s solar storm is expected to measure a Kp 5 on the K-index, another scale scientists use to measure the disruption to Earth’s magnetic field. The K-index ranges from 0 to 9, with higher numbers correlating to conditions that may allow auroras to dip farther south in latitude.
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If it reaches its full potential, a Kp 5 event could make auroras visible south of the border, affording a fantastic viewing opportunity for almost all of the Prairies, as well as most of Interior British Columbia, northern sections of Ontario and Quebec, and portions of Newfoundland and Labrador.
As always, one of the biggest factors in viewing any nighttime spectacle is cloud cover.
Unfortunately, forecasters expect widespread cloud cover to blanket much of Canada on Sunday evening as storm systems push into the West Coast and the eastern Prairies.
Scattered clouds across Alberta may provide hit-or-miss viewing opportunities throughout southern and central portions of the province. Breaks in the clouds are also possible in southwestern Saskatchewan.
Much of Ontario will contend with clouds through Sunday evening as a clipper system pushes into the province. Pockets of clear skies are possible in far northern Ontario, as well as throughout central and northern Quebec.
