You might see rare northern lights over Montreal on Canada Day — Here's where & when to look

Folks in Montreal might want to wrap up Canada Day by looking up towards the heavens — and no, we're not just talking about fireworks.

A small but real chance of seeing the northern lights is in the forecast for Tuesday night, thanks to a geomagnetic storm that could push auroras as far south as southern Quebec. While most of the colourful action is expected in places like Edmonton, Winnipeg, Yellowknife, and Whitehorse, Montreal is sitting right near the edge of the visibility zone — meaning a faint green glow on the northern horizon isn't out of the question.

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is tracking the solar activity in real time via its Aurora Dashboard, which currently shows low-level visibility potential for southern Quebec overnight on July 1 into early July 2.

Other areas of the country with aurora borealis viewing potential include southern parts of B.C. and Ontario, including Vancouver, Toronto, the GTA, and Ottawa.

According to the Canadian Space Agency, your best shot at catching the show is to head somewhere dark, far from streetlights and glowing phone screens, and look to the north. Even with light pollution, it might be possible to catch a soft shimmer in the sky if conditions line up just right.

Of course, the weather could complicate things. Environment Canada is calling for showers and a risk of thunderstorms on Tuesday afternoon, with a high of 27°C and humidex around 35. The rain should clear by nightfall, with conditions turning mainly clear and mild — potentially setting the stage for a visible aurora if the skies cooperate.

So, how do you actually spot the Northern Lights in Montreal?

It's not easy, but not impossible either.

• When: your best shot is late Tuesday night (July 1), likely after 10 p.m. and into the early hours of Wednesday
• Where: find the darkest spot you can with a clear view of the northern horizon — think parks, rooftops, or anywhere far from streetlights
• How: let your eyes adjust to the dark, avoid looking at your phone, and keep checking NOAA's Aurora Dashboard for real-time updates

It likely won't be a full-blown light show — but if you're lucky, Canada Day in Montreal could end with a rare bonus glow from nature, not just pyrotechnics.

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