Northern Lights could return for third night in a row as yellow alert issued

Ben Hurst & Ben Hurst

12 May 2024 at 5:19 am·2-min read

The Northern Lights could grace the skies above the UK for a third consecutive night, following another geomagnetic storm, according to weather experts.

The skies have been filled with eerie green and pink bands of light with it being visible, especially on Friday night, over the whole of the UK.

Channel 4's weather presenter Liam Dutton took to Twitter with an update: "LATEST NOAA SPACE PREDICTION. Further coronal mass ejections (CMEs) expected to arrive on Sunday. This means another strong or extreme geomagnetic storm is likely."

READ MORE: Northern Lights illuminate Teesside - 33 of your incredible pictures

READ MORE: Shop owners' fury at council as roadworks cause drop in takings

He continued: "Therefore, there may be another UK-wide showing of the aurora borealis on Sunday night - cloud permitting." Dutton also mentioned: "Geomagnetic activity will increase again today, however, as with last night, peak activity may not coincide with darkness."

Adding to the anticipation, he noted: "There'll also be much more cloud around tonight, with clear spells limited. So, the chances of spotting the [aurora] will be reduced somewhat.", reports Wales Online.

AuroraWatch UK, operated by the Space and Planetary Physics group at Lancaster University, issued a yellow alert this morning. They suggest that the aurora could be visible to the naked eye in some areas and more widely through camera equipment.

AuroraWatch UK provides a free service that alerts when the aurora might be seen from the UK. There's an app available in your phone's App store named AuroraWatch UK Aurora Alerts. By downloading it, you'll receive a notification on your phone when there's activity likely to result in the northern lights.

Yellow alert issued on Sunday by AuroraWatch UK — -Credit:AuroraWatch UK

This past weekend, the Northern Lights, also known as aurora borealis, made an appearance after the Met Office issued a rare severe geomagnetic storm warning for this weekend the first in nearly two decades. The lights were first spotted on Friday night with thousands of people capturing the beautiful skies - you can view some of those stunning photos here.

For those who missed it on Friday, the phenomenon returned on Saturday giving stargazers another chance - and it seems like it's set to return again. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that the earth was struck by a G5 geomagnetic storm on Thursday. A G5 rating is categorised as "extreme" and represents the highest level of solar storm.

Teesside enjoyed a spectacular light show with aurora borealis across the skies -Credit:UGC

This storm was caused by a "large, complex" sunspot cluster, 17 times the diameter of Earth. The last storm with a G5 rating impacted Earth over 20 years ago in October 2003 and resulted in power outages in Sweden. Every 11 years, the sun's poles flip, leading to bursts of solar activity that produce northern lights.

Scientists predict the next solar maximum will take place at the end of 2024.

HuffPost
Lost Donkey Seen Living With Elk Herd 5 Years Later: 'Living His Best Life'
Diesel the donkey, who disappeared in 2019, appears to be thriving with some new companions in the California wild.
The Telegraph
Holidaymakers told to prepare for ‘record breaking temperatures’ in Europe this summer
The extreme weather conditions across the Mediterranean have arrived earlier than usual this year, with heatwaves in Greece, Cyprus and Turkey and severe flooding in Mallorca. And some weather experts say this could be the start of a sweltering summer ahead.
Manchester Evening News
Met Office expert reveals exactly when UK could finally see warm weather in June
However hopes of a heatwave have been played down
CNN
Rain soaks a storm-battered Florida for a fourth day after floods transformed roads into canals and stranded drivers
Heavy rainfall is hitting Florida again after days of deadly, torrential storms have turned roads into canals and forced water rescues.
The Telegraph
Five problem plants to avoid when buying a property – and what to do if you spot them
Buying a property can be a complicated business, but there may be problems lurking in the garden which threaten to derail a purchase altogether.
Business Insider
Energy prices in France turn negative as surging renewable output takes nuclear plants offline
Some nuclear plants in France were shut down after renewable output surged, Bloomberg reported.
Associated Press
Illinois is hit with cicada chaos. This is what it's like to see, hear and feel billions of bugs
Crawling cicada nymphs, striving to get higher after 17 years underground, marched en masse toward and up trees, pausing to shed their skin and emerge as adults. Trillions of once-hidden baby bugs are in the air, on the trees and perching upon people's shirts, hats and even faces. “What you saw was biblical,” said biologist Gene Kritsky, who has been chasing periodical cicadas for 50 years, yet was still amazed by the 3 to 5 million cicadas crowding a small patch of Ryerson Conservation Area north of Chicago.
Glasgow Times
Yellow weather warning issued for thunderstorms in Glasgow
A YELLOW weather warning has been issued for thunderstorms and heavy rain in Glasgow.
Associated Press
Move over grizzlies and wolves: Yellowstone visitors hope to catch a glimpse of rare white buffalo
Standing at the edge of a bluff overlooking the Lamar River in Yellowstone National Park, TJ Ammond stared through binoculars at hundreds of buffalo dotting the verdant valley below. Grizzly bears and wolves are usually the star attractions for wildlife watchers in Yellowstone but this spring, a tiny and exceedingly rare white buffalo calf has stolen the show. White buffalo — also known as bison — are held sacred by many Native Americans who greeted news of the birth of one in Yellowstone as an auspicious sign.
Associated Press Videos
Florida governor says damage was light to homes from heavy rain and flooding
Gov. Ron DeSantis says damage to homes from heavy rain and flooding in South Florida is unlikely to be severe enough to trigger a federal disaster declaration.
CNN
Extreme weather across the globe
Michael Holmes reports on the extreme weather conditions across the globe, from droughts to torrential rain.
People
Trooping the Colour Downpour! Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte Wipe Away Condensation from Carriage Window
The royal family were struck by heavy rain on arrival at the parade in London on June 15
Benzinga
'Does Texas Even Have Sidewalks?' People Are Outraged As The State Urges Residents To Limit Car Use Despite No Viable Alternatives
Gov. Greg Abbott announced on June 7 that the Presidential Disaster Declaration in Texas, which followed severe weather, has been extended to an additional 36 counties. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) also included Austin, Dallas, Hockley, Kaufman, and Newton counties in this declaration, making them eligible for additional aid from FEMA’s public assistance program. Additionally, thirty-one new counties can now apply for aid. In addition to this announcement, Texas officials are u
The Guardian
Heatwave expected to spread to 250m Americans in midwest and north-east
Scorching temperatures have already swept south-east where Florida is now grappling with severe flooding
CBC
Elmsdale's aquatic centre was built to withstand once-in-a-century storms. Then the rain hit
The East Hants Aquatic Centre in Elmsdale, N.S., is set to reopen almost a year after massive flooding shut it down, but it's unclear why the facility was overwhelmed and how much the repairs will cost.The two-level building features a pool and community room on the main floor, while the basement houses the mechanical and electrical systems.The flooding happened when parts of Nova Scotia were hit with a near-historic amount of rainfall last summer, with some areas receiving as much as 250 millim
Associated Press
Converting cow manure to fuel is growing climate solution, but critics say communities put at risk
The stench of cow feces, urine and ammonia forces residents to keep windows and doors closed in parts of California's farming country. "We have a lot of health problems going around in this community and most of them are respiratory problems,” said Beverly Whitfield amid dairies in Pixley, a small town in Tulare County.
France 24
Much of US braces for extreme weather, from high temperatures to possible snow in the Rockies
After days of intense flooding in Florida, that state and many others are bracing for an intense heat wave, while the Pacific Northwest will experience unseasonably cold weather and the potential for late-season snow in the Rocky Mountains early next week. The chaotic weather map includes the potential for severe thunderstorms developing in between the hot and cold fronts. Forecasters said the colliding fronts could lead to areas of flash flooding between eastern Nebraska and northern Wisconsin
Manchester Evening News
UK holidaymakers heading to Turkey, Greece and Cyprus issued warning and told 'take action'
Heatwaves have been sweeping areas of Europe with schools and tourist attractions forced to close
People
At Least 2 Dead as Heavy Rain and Significant Flooding Continues in South Florida: See the Photos
A state of emergency has been declared in five counties as more rain approaches the region on Friday
Reuters
Factbox-The Russian attacks that have pounded Ukraine's power facilities
Russia renewed a campaign of aerial attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities in March, which Kyiv says has knocked out half of its power generating capacity and forced Ukraine to introduce rolling blackouts in the capital and across the country. Russia says energy infrastructure is a legitimate military target and denies targeting civilians or civilian infrastructure. The attacks have spurred concerns about the resilience of the ailing power system this winter.

Latest stories