Metro Vancouverites observed a stunning northern lights display on Monday night (Sept. 16).
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Space Weather Prediction Center called for periods of G3 (Strong) geomagnetic storms throughout Monday, due to "coronal hole influences and the anticipated arrival of a [coronal mass ejection] from the sun."
The stormy space weather created vibrant colours in places as far south of the border as Oklahoma City, Indianapolis, and Salem.
The Metro Vancouver weather forecast remained mostly clear throughout the night, providing the ideal canvas to observe the full vibrancy of Mother Nature's paintbrush.
Locals at places with higher elevations or less light pollution, such as beaches outside of the downtown area like Spanish Banks, recorded vibrant hues of green and purple. Some folks in bustling city centres even managed to get some of the greenish glow on their devices.
Jack Ting shared a timelapse from Spanish Banks taken from 8:29 p.m. to 8:33 p.m. with a two-second exposure. He thanked the BC Aurora Enthusiasts Facebook group for helping him score the breathtaking footage, writing that if it weren't for them, "I wouldn't get my pants on and go out tonight."
Tin Tang shared some jaw-dropping images from Delta and a timelapse, noting that they captured them from 1 to 2 a.m. on Tuesday. They also mention how they "saw with naked eyes" the incredible sight (see slide 10).
Locals capture epic aurora borealis photos in Metro Vancouver
Ƀeatriz Zarzøsa snapped a pair of photos from Vancouver's Collingwood neighbourhood around 11 p.m. that show a green glow emerging from the night sky (see slide four).
A local who goes by Tarun Tarun on Facebook shared photos of dazzling emerald hues in the sky from Surrey around 8:30 p.m. (see slides four and five).
Munna Buddy Lucky shared a series of photos from Pitt Meadows featuring bright green and purple-hued tones around 11:30 p.m. (see slide six).
Barbara Copp also had a few stunning snaps to share from her perspective in Pitt Meadows, including the aurora's jewel-toned hues reflecting in lake water (see slide seven).
Aki Hughes shared several snaps from Spanish Banks taken around 11:12 p.m. on Facebook (see slide eight).
Cindy Yu shared a series of stunning photos and a video from Spanish Banks that she captured between 8 p.m. and 8:50 p.m. In a Facebook post, she writes that all the pictures were taken on her Nikon Z6, while the video was recorded on her iPhone.
Environment Canada's online cloud prediction tool for astronomical purposes shows when the sky may clear to determine the ideal aurora-viewing conditions.
Skywatchers can stay up-to-date with hyperlocal forecasts across 50 neighbourhoods in the Lower Mainland with V.I.A.'s Weatherhood.
