The Met Office has indicated that the spectacular Northern Lights display witnessed by many people on Thursday night might make a comeback tonight. Social media was flooded with images of the bright pink hues illuminating the night sky, visible as far south as southern England. The Met Office Space Weather forecasting service noted that Thursday night’s display was likely the result of a severe geomagnetic storm, with effects extending into Friday. The forecast suggests that the aurora borealis could still be visible on Friday and gradually taper off by Sunday, offering a good chance of another viewing opportunity later.
A coronal mass ejection, associated with a large solar flare and filament combination from the Sun on 9th October, reached Earth on 10th October, resulting in ongoing effects such as severe geomagnetic storms. Sightings of the aurora have been reported as far south as southern England and even on the continent. Aurorawatch UK issued a ‘red alert’ this morning, indicating a likelihood of aurora sightings. Thursday’s displays were visible in locations like Kent, East Anglia, and Lancaster, where Professor Jim Wild captured the Northern Lights from his own backyard.
The Met Office highlighted that relatively clear skies are expected across much of the UK, increasing the chances of visibility for the Northern Lights. This surge in space weather events, including occurrences of the Northern Lights, is attributed to the Sun nearing the peak of its solar cycle. The sun operates on a cycle of around 11 years known as the solar cycle, marked by peak sunspot activity that can generate aurora visibility through coronal mass ejections. Auroras occur when charged particles interact with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere, emitting light at different wavelengths and creating stunning displays in the sky.
As the solar storm persists, there is optimism for a repeat viewing of the Northern Lights in the coming days. The anticipation is high, especially after the captivating show witnessed on Thursday night. With skywatchers eagerly awaiting another glimpse of this celestial phenomenon, the Met Office’s updates and forecasts are closely monitored to catch a potential encore display of the Northern Lights.