Residents in the UK are advised to stay vigilant as certain regions may witness the spectacular phenomenon of the Northern Lights today and tomorrow.
The UK’s Met Office has announced the imminent arrival of a significant solar flare towards Earth, carrying charged particles that could illuminate the night sky with a stunning Aurora Borealis display. This solar flare, identified as a coronal mass ejection (CME), has the potential to bring the Northern Lights to the northern parts of the UK, with a chance for sightings even in the southern regions.
The Met Office stated that the exact timing of the CME’s arrival remains uncertain, but there is a possibility of observing the auroras in northern Britain and potentially in southern areas depending on cloud coverage.
A rapid coronal mass ejection, described as a significant outburst of charged material from the Sun, departed from the Sun recently and is projected to reach Earth either overnight on Monday or early on Tuesday morning.
This event could offer a glimpse of the Northern Lights to the British skies, particularly over Scotland, Northern Ireland, northern England, and potentially extending further south. However, visibility will rely on the timing of the arrival and the prevailing cloud conditions.
Krista Hammond, the Weather Manager at Met Office Space Weather, mentioned, “There is still some uncertainty regarding the precise timing of the CME’s arrival, but it is anticipated to occur overnight today or tomorrow morning. The CME is expected to induce geomagnetic storming, creating opportunities to witness the aurora.
“Nonetheless, sightings are contingent on the CME reaching during nighttime hours with clear skies. Unfortunately, the presence of clouds and rain on Tuesday evening might hinder viewing, even under favorable timing conditions.”
Current weather maps depict heavy cloud cover over the UK from Monday night into Tuesday morning, reducing the likelihood of observing the Northern Lights for individuals.
The space weather forecast by the Met Office states, “A Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) that emerged from the Sun on 18 Jan is anticipated to arrive either late on 19 Jan or early on 20 Jan (UTC). G2-G3/Moderate-Strong storms are expected with a possibility of G4/Severe Storm intervals.
“This event is likely to bring auroras across Scotland, Northern Ireland, northern England, and potentially further south, although visibility will hinge on the timing of its arrival and cloud cover.”
According to the Met Office, the thinnest cloud cover is forecasted around 4 am during the early hours of Tuesday morning, presenting the best opportunity to witness this celestial display.
The Met Office suggests that to catch a glimpse of the auroras, individuals should locate a dark spot with minimal light pollution, face the northern horizon, and choose a time when cloud coverage is at its minimum.
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