Northern lights forecast tonight in Manitoba

A research station at 1 Launch Road, 24 km east of town, with a heated dome and an outdoor deck whose lights are switched off when the aurora appears. Access is by arrangement, which also settles the bear question.

The point where the Churchill River meets Hudson Bay, a kilometre northwest of town, with the frozen bay taking up the whole northern horizon. Polar bears use this ground, so drive or go with a guide rather than walking out.

Twenty-odd minutes up Hwy 59 and the city glow drops behind you — this is the default answer when the forecast lights up. Aim for the lake or the open horse-trail fields where the prairie sky runs flat to the north. You need a Manitoba parks vehicle permit, and on big storm nights you will not be alone.

Half an hour north — Hwy 8 to Hwy 67, then PR 220 to the interpretive centre at 1 Snow Goose Bay — with nothing but marsh between you and the northern horizon. The Wetland Discovery Centre runs monthly astronomy nights from its rooftop, including an aurora-themed one. In the warm months the mosquitoes here are not a joke: long sleeves and spray, or stay in the car until the sky does something.

Follow Main Street onto Hwy 9, or take the old River Road along the west bank of the Red past the stone church at St. Andrews — the pullouts face the water and the sky opens up north of Lockport. It is the closest stretch where the dark actually wins, and you can be back in the city in half an hour. Watch for other cars doing the same slow crawl on storm nights.