Northern Lights Forecast Over Canada on Thursday Night
The Aurora Borealis may illuminate the night sky above Canada, driven by intense space weather activity originating from the Sun.
Recent Solar Activity
In recent weeks, solar astronomers and space weather enthusiasts have observed a remarkable series of solar eruptions. These coronal mass ejections, commonly known as solar storms, mostly occurred on the far side of the Sun or were directed away from Earth.
All these events stem from a single group of sunspots called Active Region 4274, which has recently rotated into view along the Sun's eastern limb.
Solar Observations and Imaging
The SUVI instrument aboard NOAA's GOES-19 weather satellite captured an image showing several bright active regions near the center of the Sun. Near the center of the SUVI image, a darker area indicates a large coronal hole.
Additionally, four inset images from the NASA/ESA SOHO spacecraft’s LASCO C3 coronagraph show four significant coronal mass ejections linked to Active Region 4274, marked in yellow.
Notable Solar Flare Event
On the morning of November 4, AR 4274 produced a powerful solar flare classified as X1.8. This is the strongest flare observed since an X1.9 flare on June 19 and ranks as the fifth most intense solar flare of 2025.
— NOAA, NASA/ESA, Scott Sutherland
Author's summary: Active Region 4274's recent solar storms promise vivid Northern Lights over Canada, marking some of the strongest solar activity recorded in 2025.