Northern Lights Could Be Visible Across UK Tonight as Geomagnetic Activity Increases
A spectacular display of the Northern Lights could be visible across the UK tonight and early tomorrow morning,as a surge of solar energy is expected to reach earth. The Met Office is forecasting a 90% chance of aurora visibility on Wednesday/Thursday night, driven by coronal mass ejections (CMEs) launched from the sun between October 11 and 13.
This heightened geomagnetic activity offers a rare possibility for residents of northern regions – and possibly further south - to witness the aurora borealis, typically seen in higher latitude destinations.The first of the four CMEs is predicted to arrive late Wednesday, with the most significant displays anticipated in the early hours of Thursday, October 16, and further activity expected on Friday.
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts geomagnetic disturbances will reach G2 levels on Wednesday night and Thursday, potentially extending the auroraS reach to northern parts of the UK and the US. To maximize viewing opportunities, NOAA advises seeking dark locations away from city lights.
“Best aurora is usually within an hour or two of midnight (between 10pm and 2am local time),” NOAA states on its website. “These hours of active aurora expand towards evening and morning as the level of geomagnetic activity increases. There may be aurora in the evening and morning but it is usually not as active and therefore, not as visually appealing.”
