Southern Canada May See Aurora Tonight

A flare released by the sun yesterday is expected to make impact with the Earth in the next several hours, producing the chance for widespread auroral viewing across southern Canada, and possibly areas in the extreme Upper Midwest.

The Planetary K index has not yet risen to high values, so we do not know how strong the aurora will be or how far south it will stretch. I will have a much better feel on this by tonight, and will issue a post concerning the aurora's extent by then.

Persons with jobs in the electrical, astronautical or those residing in the higher latitudes should be aware of possible damage to transformers, corrective orbital action needed for satellites affected, and power loss in higher latitudes.

Andrew