Northern light Canada forecast

Where to see the Northern Lights in Canada?

The northern territories of Canada offer the spectacle of the “northern light” during the winter. Many spots in the Yukon or the northern territories offer a view under the illuminated sky of the aurora borealis.

Aurora Borealis Yukon

From September to mid-April, the aurora borealis hovers in the sky over the Yukon Territory in Canada. Depending on cloud conditions, light pollution and auroral activity at night, you could spend hours watching the neon shades of green and yellow.

The Yukon is one of the best places to see the Northern Lights in the world, due to its latitude and location. In Whitehorse, a prime destination you can even find some of the best Northern Lights hotels in Canada. One of these hotels is the Northern Lights Resort & Spa where you can book cottages with large windows to view the Northern Lights in a warm interior.


Northern Lights Yukon Chalet


Northern Lights Yellowknife

Another perfect place to see the Northern Lights in Canada would be the Northwest Territories, where its capital, Yellowknife, is one of the most famous places to enjoy this phenomenon. There are also many hotels and activity centers related to the Northern Lights at this destination.


Aurora Borealis Nuvanut – Canada – Artic circle

In the remote and arctic territory of Nunavut, the aurora can also be seen in its capital, Iqaluit, on Baffin Island. It is perhaps one of the coldest, most remote and uninhabited places in North America to experience the Northern Lights in winter.

Also located at a high latitude, the town of Churchill in northern Manitoba is another Northern Lights destination.

To maximize our chances of seeing the Northern Lights in Quebec, we should head to the northern regions of the province, such as Kuujjuaq.

At lower latitudes, the best place to see the Northern Lights in Canada would be British Columbia, Alberta and the Canadian Rockies in general. In the Canadian Rockies, Banff National Park and Jasper National Park would be the best places.


When to see the Northern Lights in Canada? Season. 2023 2024

In the northern regions of Canada such as the Yukon or the Arctic territories, the best time to see the aurora is from September to the end of March. During the summer months, the night sky is not dark enough to see the Northern Lights, even when the solar wind activity is strong. In mid-winter, temperatures can drop to minus 40 degrees and it is important to wear appropriate winter clothing to enjoy the displays. Canadian winters are very cold, so for a honeymoon you need to bring more than your wedding dress and evening wear!

September and October: Statistically, there are usually very high KP in these months and it is easy to see auroras in Canada even though the days are not as long as in winter.
November, December, January and February: the days are very short and the nights very dark, so it is easy to see the Northern Lights in the north when the sky is clear.
March and April: As it happened with the fall equinox, with the spring equinox, statistically, many aurora borealis are also observed in Canada.

Video Northern Lights in Yukon – Whitehorse – Canada


Aurora Borealis forecast in Canada

Canada northern light forecast

As in Alaska or Europe, websites and applications offer forecasts of aurora and intensity of the aurora. If these forecasts are not long term forecasts, they allow to know at 3 days or for the same day the intensity of the phenomenon and the probability to see an aurora in different areas of northern Canada. Auroral forecasts are issued from stations where the aurora can be seen on a daily basis and for several days. Some cities where auroras can be seen that have forecasts:

Yellowknife, NT - Northern light forecast

Churchill, Manitoba - Northern light forecast

Dawson City, Yukon - Northern light forecast

Hay River, Northwest Territories - Northern light forecast

Inuvik, Northwest Territories - Northern light forecast

Iqaluit, Nunavut - Northern light forecast

Yellowknife, Northwest Territories - Northern light forecast

Canada aurora borealis forecast

Forecasts to discover directly on the site https://astronomynorth.com/


Northern light Forecast Quebec

Quebec is not the most exposed area to the aurora borealis during winter, but it is possible to observe them. It is therefore necessary to use aurora and weather forecasts to maximize your chances of seeing the light dancing in the sky. Due to its location, Quebec allows to see auroras in winter about 3 to 5 times a month, very rarely more. But the places far from the cities and artificial lights are magnificent and put in situation the light of the sky in an exceptional way. Their rarity makes them even more exceptional.

  • St-Michel-de-Bellechasse, Chaudière-Appalaches
  • Bic National Park, Bas-Saint-Laurent
  • Laurentian Wildlife Reserve, Quebec
  • St-David-de-Falardeau, Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean
  • La Baie, Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean
  • Val-d’Or, Abitibi

The Government of Canada proposes a weather and auroral forecast site for Quebec https://www.spaceweather.gc.ca/forecast-prevision/long/sflt-1-fr.php