Northern Lights could be visible in UK tonight due to 'geomagnetic storm'

Ryan O'Neill
·1-min read
The aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, illuminate the sky just before midnight over St Aidan's church in Thockrington, Northumberland on Tuesday, April 16
The aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, illuminate the sky just before midnight over St Aidan's church in Thockrington, Northumberland on Tuesday, April 16 -Credit:PA


The Northern Lights could be visible from parts of the UK tonight due to a "geomagnetic storm". The Met Office said the storm meant there was an increased chance of seeing the natural wonder.

A geomagnetic storm is a major disturbance of Earth's magnetosphere that occurs when there is a very efficient exchange of energy from the solar wind into the space environment surrounding the planet. Such storms create a higher chance of seeing the Northern Lights, or aurora borealis.

They are usually most visible closest to the Arctic and near Antarctica, where they are known as Aurora Australis, or Southern Lights. But tonight's increased geomagnetic activity means you might be able to see the spectacular sight from closer to home.

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According to the Met Office, the Northern Lights may be visible across Scotland, as well as Northern Ireland and parts of northern England with clear spells to start before turning cloudier from the west later. The Met Office's forecast shows your best chance of catching a glimpse of the lights might be between 7pm and 10pm on Wednesday night before the activity decreases heading into the middle of the night.

Increased activity in the skies this week has already seen the Northern Lights captured in the UK with sightings reported in Lancashire, Merseyside and Cumbria, as well as in the East Midlands, and as far south as Cornwall and Dorset.

The display is created by different gases becoming energised which presents as a striking green glow, but purple, blue and pink can often also be seen.

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