The Met Office has provided a significant update on the optimal time and location to witness the Northern Lights on Friday night. A dazzling exhibition of the Northern Lights graced the skies across the UK on Thursday night, painting the heavens with shades of pink and green. From the Vale of Clwyd in the north to the Gower in the south of Wales, the spectacle was visible, raising hopes for a repeat performance tonight. While the aurora borealis is expected to make a comeback, the Met Office cautioned in a Friday morning update that there will be “cloudier skies” this evening. The advisory agency mentioned, “Cloudier skies tonight will limit the chances of seeing the #northernlights, however Scotland offers the best chance of seeing the Aurora.”
The Welsh forecast from the Met Office for Friday night indicates, “Staying dry for most through the evening and overnight with clear spells. More cloud will build towards southeastern later with isolated showers possible. Rather cold.” Sean Elvidge, a space environment professor at the University of Birmingham, attributed the recent heightened visibility of the lights to the largest geomagnetic storm since 2003. Explaining the phenomenon, the Met Office stated, “Northern lights occur as a consequence of solar activity and result from collisions of charged particles in the solar wind colliding with molecules in the Earth’s upper atmosphere.”
For optimum viewing conditions of the Northern Lights, the Met Office recommends a dark and cloudless sky. Cloud cover obstructs visibility, so ideal settings are away from light pollution in remote areas, facing the northern horizon – with north-facing coasts offering excellent vantage points according to weather experts. The lights are more active during March, April, September, and October. The Met Office noted an increase in “space weather events in recent months,” including the Northern Lights, as the sun approached the peak of its solar cycle, following a remarkable display in May.
As enthusiasts eagerly await a potential encore tonight, the captivating dance of the Northern Lights continues to intrigue and inspire spectators across Wales, with hopes of catching another glimpse of this awe-inspiring natural spectacle.