Northern Lights in Niagra Falls in Summer?
May 3, 2019, 3:03 pm
#1
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Northern Lights in Niagra Falls in Summer?
If I go to Niagara Falls in Summer, can I guarantee to see Northern Lights?
What are some tips to see them?
Do you have to be in a specific place to see them?
Any tips on hotels?
Can I also drive from Toronto and see the lights without staying in a hotel?
What are some tips to see them?
Do you have to be in a specific place to see them?
Any tips on hotels?
Can I also drive from Toronto and see the lights without staying in a hotel?
May 3, 2019, 5:08 pm
#2
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That's a little far south, especially in summer. While I spent very little time in Ontario, I can tell you there is a BIG difference between Edmonton and Calgary, and both are further north @:-) Even in Victoria it's very rare .... and the big difference between Calgary and Edmonton, is that the latter is more likely to have colors in Northern Lights.
May 3, 2019, 6:07 pm
#3
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No. Hard no.
That's a little far south, especially in summer. While I spent very little time in Ontario, I can tell you there is a BIG difference between Edmonton and Calgary, and both are further north @:-) Even in Victoria it's very rare .... and the big difference between Calgary and Edmonton, is that the latter is more likely to have colors in Northern Lights.
That's a little far south, especially in summer. While I spent very little time in Ontario, I can tell you there is a BIG difference between Edmonton and Calgary, and both are further north @:-) Even in Victoria it's very rare .... and the big difference between Calgary and Edmonton, is that the latter is more likely to have colors in Northern Lights.
May 5, 2019, 3:38 pm
#8
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The probability of seeing the northern lights with the naked eye anywhere in southern Ontario in summer is vanishingly small. For a good chance of seeing it you want to visit somewhere at least as far north as Winnipeg/Edmonton/Prince George and in the winter when there's many hours of darkness. Yellowknife is ideal if you really want to be guaranteed a glimpse during a relatively short visit.
May 5, 2019, 3:39 pm
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May 5, 2019, 3:46 pm
#10
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Yellowknife & Churchill are the most popular. November to March when it's dark 15+ hours a day. These places also have very clear skies so if the aurora is active, you will almost certainly see it because it will be dark and clear.
May 5, 2019, 3:47 pm
#11
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The probability of seeing the northern lights with the naked eye anywhere in southern Ontario in summer is vanishingly small. For a good chance of seeing it you want to visit somewhere at least as far north as Winnipeg/Edmonton/Prince George and in the winter when there's many hours of darkness. Yellowknife is ideal if you really want to be guaranteed a glimpse during a relatively short visit.
Winnipeg, Manitoba (closer to Minnesota, US)
Churchill, Manitoba
Edmonton, Alberta
Prince George, BC
Prince George, BC, might be easier to travel if I can not see it from Toronta
Last edited by sciconf; May 5, 2019 at 3:58 pm
May 5, 2019, 7:42 pm
#12
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The furthest south I've seen northern lights in Canada is on an island in Georgian Bay about half an hour from Owen Sound and it was a rare event. Not only is seeing them far south uncommon there is the added problem of light pollution in much of Southern Ontario.
May 6, 2019, 9:00 am
#14
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I've seen the northern lights in southern Ontario, not too far from Niagara Falls, but it was an extremely cold night in the middle of winter, and coincided with a major solar storm event, a very rare combination of things, and even then you would have to drive far away from the population to get away from light pollution of the cities. Bottom line is that unless everything lines up perfectly, your best bet to see the northern lights is to plan a separate trip to someplace in Northern Canada in the middle of winter. Whitehorse or Yellowknife would be popular destinations for this kind of thing, just be sure to pack some winter clothes because it will be -30 or -40 at night!!
May 7, 2019, 8:48 am
#15
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I've seen the northern lights in southern Ontario once in 15 years, it only lasted a few minutes, and wasn't anything like the beautiful photographs of them you see with the pinks and purples (it was a subdued greenish light).
I'd head to the territories, Whitehorse, Yellowknife, Iqaluit, etc. and as others have said, in winter, not summer.
I'd head to the territories, Whitehorse, Yellowknife, Iqaluit, etc. and as others have said, in winter, not summer.