Northern Lights may be visible from North Wales tonight say Met Office

Northern Lights (aurora borealis) captured by Phil Williams at Melin Llynon, Llanddeusant, Anglesey
-Credit: (Image: Phil Williams)


The Met Office says the Northern Lights could be visible from North Wales this evening. Forecasters said the combination of clear skies and "Aurora activity" could bring the lights into view.

They said they may be seen from parts of Wales - particularly in the north - later this evening. Meteorologists advised people to seek out dark locations and consider using a long exposure camera, which is more adept at capturing the lights than the human eye due to its ability to adjust to various wavelengths.

Met Office spokesperson Andrea Bishop said: “Aurora activity is expected to peak on Monday following the forecast arrival of a coronal mass ejection. However, for the UK, this period is expected to coincide with daylight hours.

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“Lingering effects are still likely to persist into Monday night and early Tuesday morning though, meaning that aurora is likely to be visible where skies are clear from Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as parts of England and Wales, mainly in the north.

“It’s not possible to predict how far south the coronal mass ejection may be seen or pick out cities, but in terms of visibility overnight, there are generally clear skies for most tonight, however, it will be cloudier across the Northern Isles and western Scotland, with patchy rain and drizzle as well as cloudier skies in Northern Ireland."

The Northern Lights are best seen in remote, open areas with views of the northern horizon, and are unlikely to be visible until it gets very dark. The colourful displays are created when charged particles collide with gases in the Earth's atmosphere around the magnetic poles, emitting light at various wavelengths.

The Northern Lights are usually confined to a band around the North Pole known as the aurora oval, which covers latitudes between 60 and 75 degrees. However, when activity is strong, this expands to cover a greater area, which is why displays can occasionally be seen as far south as the UK.

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