Northern Lights update issued by Met Office ahead of spectacle across UK

The weather service has said the best place to view the celestial spectacle

Brits across the country are waiting for a chance to see the Northern Lights this week, after the Met Office’s space weather forecast predicts that the spactacle will be visible across most parts of the country across tonight and tomorrow.

While northern Scotland and northern England typically being the best spots in the UK to witness the Aurora Borealis, with good visibility the lights could also make an appearing further south, the Mirror writes.

The celestial spectacle is due this week as a result of increased solar activity, as a swift coronal mass ejection departed the Sun late on Sunday night and is expected to reach Earth early this week.

Forecasters anticipate this event to boost geomagnetic activity, creating conditions that could allow the lights to be seen further south than usual.

There’s a chance the aurora may be visible across much of the UK to the naked eye, without the need for photographic equipment, the Met Office suggests. This is a fairly rare occurrence for southern locations, although the Met Office says the best chance of seeing the aurora remains in the north of the country.

But the weather service has warned that several factors – especially cloud cover and light pollution – could reduce visibility.

The Met Office said: “The weather forecast from September 1 to 3 does indicated lots of cloud cover throughout the evening, with the Midlands most likely to have the least cloud and, therefore, potentially the best viewing conditions on September 1.

“September 2 and 3 sees nighttime viewing conditions worsen, with northern Scotland and northern England likely to have the clearest skies, although still not ideal viewing conditions. A waxing gibbous moon will also be present, which could impede clear views of the aurora, particularly in areas with additional light pollution. For those in more marginal locations, further south or in urban areas, light pollution will play a significant role in determining whether the aurora can be seen.”

From Wednesday night onwards, the chances of being able see additional aurora displays decreases as no major solar activity is anticipated, the Met Office added.

However, even when conditions appear less than ideal, stargazers shouldn’t lose hope as there’s still a possibility that the sky might clear up for a memorable spectacle.

Krista Hammond, Met Office space weather manager, said: “As we monitor the arrival of this coronal mass ejection, there is a real possibility of aurora sightings further south than usual on Monday night.

“While the best views are likely further north, anyone with clear, dark skies should keep an eye out. Forecasts can change rapidly, so we encourage the public to stay updated with the latest information.”