Red alert issued for northern lights on Saturday, May 11 over UK

The Northern Lights are set to return tonight after an incredible display in the skies overnight. A big geomagnetic storm in space meant people around the UK had an amazing view of the phenomenon.

And the UK-based Aurorawatch has issued a 'red alert' saying there is a lot of activity still taking place today, meaning that it's likely it will return tonight across the UK. In some areas dozens of people gathered to catch a glimpse of the lights which appeared from around 11.30pm on Friday, May 10.

Of course many missed the main event which happened after midnight when many were in bed and are desperate to see it again. Aurora activity is expected again on Saturday and while the geomagnetic storm is still expected to be in the "strong" category, early indications are that it may not reach the extreme of Friday.

Weather conditions are again expected to be ideal but it needs to be dark so you will need to wait until at least 22:30 BST. ITV News meteorologist and weather presenter Chris Page said it is possible the Northern Lights will be visible this evening across the UK and Wales. ITV News meteorologist and weather presenter Chris Page said it is possible the Northern Lights will be visible this evening across the UK and Wales.

“Activity is expected to slowly decline, however there is a good chance (cloud permitting) you’ll be able to see it again tonight,” he said. Met Office spokesperson Stephen Dixon said the conditions that allowed the Northern Lights to appear on Friday night could be replicated on Saturday, but that the exact locations were still unknown.

“We still have to work out some details on where exactly that will be,” Mr Dixon said. The combination of clear skies and enhanced activity from the sun reaching Earth would improve the chances of seeing the display, he added.

Chris Snell, a meteorologist at the Met Office, advised those hoping to see the lights on Saturday to head to an area with low light pollution and to use a good camera, adding: “The best chance you have of seeing the lights is if you are away from street lights and areas with lots of light pollution, as any type of light does have a big effect.”

“Also, at this time of year, we are fighting the shorter length of nights, so it is unlikely that they will be visible until around 10.30pm or 11 o’clock when it gets really dark.”

The best time to spot the Northern Lights tends to be between 10pm and 2am. Last night’s sightings have reached as far as Ireland, with the Irish weather service Met Eireann posting images of the lights in Dublin and at Shannon Airport in Co Clare.

Kathleen Cunnea, in Great Horkesley, Essex, said: “It was absolutely stunning to see.” The visibility of the Northern Lights was increased on Friday because of an “extreme” geomagnetic storm, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The NOAA said the G5 geomagnetic storm, which is considered extreme and is the strongest level of geomagnetic storm, hit earth on Thursday and could affect communications, GPS and power grids. The cause of this storm is a “large, complex” sunspot cluster and is 17 times the diameter of earth, with the last storm with a G5 rating hitting earth in October 2003, causing power outages in Sweden.

Aurora displays occur when charged particles collide with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere around the magnetic poles. In the northern hemisphere, most of this activity takes place within a band known as the aurora oval, covering latitudes between 60 and 75 degrees.

When activity is strong, this expands to cover a greater area – which explains why displays can be occasionally seen as far south as the UK.