The UK may witness the spectacular Northern Lights display tonight and possibly tomorrow, as per the Met Office forecasts. Earlier this week, the national weather agency hinted at the possibility of seeing the aurora borealis in parts of England and Scotland on Thursday and Friday, with chances extending to Saturday.
The likelihood of observing the Northern Lights is attributed to the expected arrival of coronal mass ejections (CMEs). CMEs are powerful discharges of plasma and magnetic fields from the Sun’s corona, often tied to solar flares. These phenomena, traveling at speeds up to 3,000km/s, can trigger geomagnetic storms, auroras, and potentially disrupt satellites or power systems.
The latest space weather forecast from the Met Office for the Northern Hemisphere indicates the potential for multiple CMEs arriving on March 20-21, along with an anticipated solar wind enhancement connecting to Earth on March 21. Enhanced auroral visibility is probable over the upcoming nights, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights, with sightings possible in clear skies across Scotland, northern England, and similar latitudes.
Despite the recent hot weather, the Met Office warns of a chance of snow in some parts of the UK over the weekend. Clouds and sporadic rain are expected to move southeastwards on Sunday, with scattered showers in the north that could translate into snow on higher ground.
Met Office Chief Forecaster Steve Willington reminds that while the start of the period may offer warm sunshine, March can bring colder intervals and wintry showers. Looking ahead to the next week, a shift to a cooler northwesterly flow is anticipated, leading to lower temperatures, unsettled weather, potential hill snow in the north, and occasional brisk winds – a typical weather pattern for this time of year.
