The Met Office has said there is a chance of seeing the Northern Lights this weekend from Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England. The forecaster said there had been increased solar activity in recent days.
When this happens, it makes the chances of seeing the Northern Lights, also known as aurora borealis, more likely. The Met Office said that Saturday, October 5, had “the greatest likelihood of aurora being visible”.
It also said that solar activity had been high. This included a “strong flare” and a coronal mass ejection (CME) – all of which is good news for people wanting to see the Northern Lights.
The Met Office said: “Aurora activity is expected to increase this weekend, leading to aurora potentially being visible across Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England where skies are clear. Saturday night has the greatest likelihood of aurora being visible, with a chance that aurora may be visible further south, across central England and similar latitudes.”
Looking in more detail at the solar activity, it added: “Solar activity has been High, with the background level solar activity just below Moderate Class level and several M-class flares occurring. The largest flare was a Strong flare observed at 03/1218 UTC, which originated from a geomagnetically complex region near south-centre disc.
“A filament eruption (arc of plasma material) was observed 03/0630 UTC in coronagraph imagery, close to a sunspot region located near the northeast limb. This has produced a coronal mass ejection (CME) off the northeast limb, which has been analysed as missing Earth. The arrival of another CME, from Oct 3, is more confidence, arriving either late on the 5th or early on Oct 6.”
It will be that confidence that aurora-chasers will be hoping gives them a light show to remember this weekend. Fans have been treated to several shows over recent months. Most notably, back in May the aurora was visible across the UK – usually it is those in the northern areas that are most likely to see it.
However, in May an “extreme” geomagnetic storm meant that people as far south as Berkshire and Kent were able to see it. This weekend spotters will be hoping for clear skies so they can enjoy the show.
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