Exact dates Northern Lights could be visible over Lancashire again this week

The Northern Lights could return with a vengeance over Lancashire this week as solar activity spikes - but their visibility will depend on clear skies.

Following May's spectacular auroras, the Sun's increased activity means we could be in for another treat in a matter of days. Last month we saw the biggest solar flare since 2017 and the first major geomagnetic storm since 2003, making the Northern Lights visible around the world.

The sunspot responsible for these events has rotated out of view, but now it's back and just as active as before. It has already produced more flares, and one of them could trigger a coronal mass ejection (CME).

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The impact of a CME on Earth depends on the Sun's rotation, and June 4-6 is the prime window for potential effects. This is about one full rotation after the mid-May solar flares.

"Eruptions close to this window will have the best odds of producing a geomagnetic storm and enhanced aurora display here on Earth," said Ryan French, a solar physicist at the National Solar Observatory in Boulder, Colorado, reports NorthWalesLive. So, keep your eyes on the skies between Tuesday and Thursday and you might just catch a glimpse of this amazing natural phenomenon.

The Sun's solar flares have already caused shortwave radio blackouts in Europe and the US. For a repeat of last month's displays, clear skies will be needed and for this weather forecasters are undecided: the Met Office expects dry, settled conditions at the start of this week but there is a chance these may not last.

Look at our gallery of images from May of the aurora over Lancashire. As ever, if the Northern Lights do reappear, they'll be strongest in Scotland and northern England.

So what are the chances of seeing more solar fireworks in Lancashire? Dr French suspects June's auroras will not be quite as intense.

"The May 2024 aurora event was truly a rare occurrence, as the first G5 geomagnetic storm since 2003," he said. "Even if high activity continues from AR 13697, the perfect alignment of conditions needed to reach a G5 level will be tough to repeat again."

So perhaps a direct repeat is a stretch. But Dr French added: "Although a G5 is not likely (but not impossible) to happen again this month, G3-4 conditions would still provide a view of the aurora to millions at higher latitudes."

"This is also not our last chance. As solar activity continues to rise to its expected peak in late 2024-2025, we can look forward to many more strong geomagnetic storms."

"Although another G5 storm is not guaranteed during this solar maximum, it's certainly possible." In light of this, here's a guide on the best way to photograph these remarkable sky displays.