Northern Lights Forecast: Where To See Them, What Time

Posted: September 16, 2024

The Northern Lights, also known as the aurora borealis, were visible across parts of the UK on Thursday night, captivating observers from Scotland to the southern coast of England. According to meteorologists, the lights appeared as expected, with clear skies offering ideal viewing conditions. Areas from Scotland, Northern Ireland, and England, including regions as far south as Sussex and Kent, were treated to the glowing colors of the aurora.

Photographers and stargazers took to BBC Weather Watchers to share their captures, with dramatic photos coming in from locations such as Aberdeen, Anstruther in Fife, and Carnach in the Highlands. In West Sussex, a pinkish sky was visible over the town of Selsey, while in Norfolk, the aurora was spotted over the beach at Cromer.

Jonathan Vautrey, a meteorologist from the Met Office, noted that the clear skies and low cloud cover created optimal conditions for spotting the phenomenon. He recommended looking toward the northern horizon and suggested that a camera or telescope could enhance visibility.

Temperatures overnight were colder than usual for mid-September, dipping to around 0°C (32°F) in parts of southern Scotland and northern England. However, meteorologists expect temperatures to rise in the coming days.

Auroras are caused by charged particles from the sun colliding with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere near the magnetic poles, producing colorful lights. Typically visible near the Arctic Circle, these displays occasionally extend further south when solar activity is strong, as it has been recently. In August, the lights were seen as far south as Cornwall, and in May, similar displays were observed across the UK and worldwide.

There is a slim chance of seeing the Northern Lights again on Friday night into Saturday, but meteorologists warn that conditions are not expected to be as favorable as they were on Thursday.