UK Set for Another Dazzling Display of Northern Lights Tonight
Skywatchers across the UK could be treated to another stunning show of the Northern Lights tonight as powerful solar eruptions continue to send charged particles towards Earth.
The Met Office said on social media on Tuesday: “Aurora possible tonight! Most likely across northern Scotland but perhaps further south across Northern Ireland, England and Wales,” though it warned that “widespread cloud in these areas will likely limit any sightings.”
The colourful light display, known as the Aurora Borealis, is caused by the Sun releasing bursts of energy called Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs). These waves of solar particles collide with Earth’s atmosphere, exciting oxygen and nitrogen molecules that glow in shades of green, pink, and red. Scientists say three CMEs are currently heading our way, raising the chance of another strong geomagnetic storm through Wednesday night into Thursday morning.
According to the UK Met Office’s space weather forecast, the best views are likely across the northern half of the country — but with clear skies, people as far south as the Midlands or even East Anglia could catch a glimpse. The spectacle was already spotted on Tuesday, when pink and green ribbons of light lit up skies above places like St Mary’s Lighthouse in Whitley Bay.
The current storm has been measured at KP8 — an unusually high level of geomagnetic activity. That means the aurora could stretch much farther south than usual, though cloudy weather may obscure the view for some regions.
To improve your chances, experts recommend heading somewhere dark and away from streetlights with a good view of the northern horizon. The Royal Photographic Society says a camera can pick up colours the naked eye might miss. “Look for an interesting foreground, such as trees, which will create silhouettes in the sky,” the society advises. “Or use a lake or water, which will create reflections and make for a more interesting picture.”
Tonight, clearer skies are forecast across south-east England, the Midlands and East Anglia early in the evening, before cloud builds again later. Breaks are also expected in northern Scotland, Wales, and parts of south-west England overnight.
Geomagnetic storms like this one aren’t harmful to people — Earth’s atmosphere shields us from radiation — but they can interfere with satellites and GPS systems. In rare cases, they can even affect power grids.
If skies stay clear, the lights should be visible before midnight and could continue flickering into Thursday morning. And if you miss out this time, don’t worry — with the Sun in an active phase, more aurora alerts could be on the way soon.
