Northern lights illuminate Lower Mainland skies over July Fourth weekend

Despite forecasts predicting poor conditions, skywatchers across Metro Vancouver captured stunning displays of the northern lights over the July Fourth weekend. The American National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had issued a G2 (Moderate) geomagnetic storm watch for July 3, and while weather clouds threatened to block the view, locals who ventured to dark-sky locations caught brilliant greens and amethyst hues dancing across the night sky.

Photographers shared their captures in the BC Aurora Enthusiasts Facebook group. Stephanie Qiu captured the lights near Spanish Banks on July 4 around 2:30 a.m., her photo showing a potent green glow illuminating the water. Taras Kizlyk also photographed the aurora over the beach on July 4, capturing hues ranging from neon green to amethyst. Husain Kherodawala photographed the phenomenon on July 3 just after midnight in Pitt Meadows, where distance from downtown Vancouver's light pollution makes viewing easier.

Other notable captures came from Brayden Sherban, who photographed a deeper, richer green above Vancouver waters, and Mariole Einid, whose ethereal photographs at Boundary Bay in Tsawwassen showed the aurora reflecting on the water just before midnight on July 3. YT Kuah captured several images on July 4 at 3:09 a.m. over the North Shore Mountains, with the aurora visibly peaking through rolling clouds.