‘Torontohenge’ phenomenon to offer striking sunset views tonight

Torontonians who find themselves in the downtown core on Tuesday evening will get an opportunity to catch a glimpse of a local solar phenomenon.

It’s the time of year for ‘Torontohenge,’ an event when the sun lines up perfectly with the city’s east-west downtown streets at sunset.

CityNews 680 meteorologist Jill Taylor says the clear sky conditions on Tuesday evening should cooperate and allow for a good view of the sunset at 6:20 p.m. The sun will line up again at 6:18 p.m. on Wednesday but the forecast is calling for cloudier skies.

People will be able to view the solar event by looking west down skyscraper-lined streets in the city’s downtown core during the sunset.

“Just a caution for drivers that the glare could be intense,” Taylor says. “Pedestrians should be careful as well.”

The best streets to view ‘Torontohenge’ are Richmond, Adelaide, King and Wellington streets in the downtown core. Looking west from the intersection of Yonge and Bloor will also offer a decent view.

These streets are ideal viewing spots because they are all straight and are lined with very tall buildings, according to The Weather Network meteorologist Scott Sutherland.

“They have a relatively unobstructed view of the western horizon,” he says. “Any similar street will produce the desired effect, though.”

“To get the whole experience, plan to set up at your desired viewing spot at least half an hour before sunset.”

The term ‘Torontohenge’ is borrowed from ‘Manhattanhenge,’ a similar solar event when the setting sun perfectly lines up with the east-west streets in New York City. Both names are a reference to Stonehenge, the English monument that is aligned with the sunset on the winter solstice.