Northern Lights visible across UK as solar activity peaks

Summarised from 5 outlets · Updated 11 Oct, 10:24 · Archive

The Northern Lights illuminated British skies on Friday and Saturday, visible as far south as Devon, Hampshire and Kent due to increased solar activity.

The Northern Lights illuminated skies across the United Kingdom on Friday and Saturday evenings, visible far further south than usual. The aurora borealis appeared as far south as Devon, Hampshire and Kent, regions that rarely see the phenomenon. Multiple locations reported sightings, including Winterton-on-Sea in Norfolk, North Lincolnshire, Surrey, Kent and various parts of Scotland.

The display was driven by solar activity from the sun. The Met Office and space weather prediction centres tracked coronal mass ejections—large expulsions of plasma and magnetic field from the sun—that created the conditions for the aurora. The initial eruption occurred on Tuesday, and a further high-speed stream from a coronal hole on the sun followed, according to GB News.

Satellite activity reached 600 nanoteslas on Saturday night, far above the 200 nanotesla threshold needed for visibility in northern Britain. This exceptionally high activity level meant the display could be seen across the entire country, extending to its southernmost counties.

The Northern Lights occur when electrically charged particles ejected by the sun collide with gases in Earth's upper atmosphere, particularly near the magnetic poles. These collisions release energy as light. Oxygen produces green hues and, at higher altitudes, rare red auroras. Nitrogen creates blue and purple tones.

The Met Office forecast that further sightings remain possible during clear skies until Tuesday, particularly across Scotland and northern England and areas at similar geomagnetic longitudes. The Met Office said: "When these particles interact with Earth's magnetic field—especially when the solar wind's polarity is opposite to Earth's—they are funnelled toward the magnetic poles."

For those hoping to observe the phenomenon, experts recommend looking north from dark, rural locations away from streetlights and other artificial light sources. A mobile phone camera can be useful, capturing colours that the human eye struggles to detect in darkness.

Experts have previously noted that heightened solar activity is expected to continue. The Guardian reported that 2026 will be a peak year for aurora-spotting, as the sun is in a heightened state of activity as part of its 11-year natural cycle.

How it is being reported

• Northern Lights alert as Met Office issues forecast for Aurora Borealis across UKStunning images of pink, purple and yellow hues were caught as the Northern Lights brought the display across the UK skies - some Brits could be in store for three more nights of lightsThe Mirror · 11 Oct, 09:02
• Northern Lights to illuminate Britain again TONIGHT in spectacular displayThe Northern Lights are set to dazzle British skies tonight, with the celestial phenomenon visible far beyond its usual northern haunts. Observers in Devon, Hampshire and Kent, regions that rarely see the Aurora Borealis, were among those who already enjoyed the vivid celestial show yesterday. The Met Office has said further sightings are possible tonight and into early next week, with opportunities to spot the aurora lasting until Tuesday wherever skies are clear. A spokesman for the forecaster explained two glancing coronal mass ejections, followed by a high-speed stream from a coronal…GB News · 11 Oct, 08:47
• Skies across the UK illuminated by the northern lightsThough mostly visible near the Arctic Circle, the natural phenomenon dazzled sky-gazers as far south Devon, Hampshire and Kent The northern lights illuminated the skies across the UK on Friday and Saturday evening. Sky-gazers as far south as Devon, Hampshire and Kent were treated to the dazzling natural phenomenon, also known as the aurora borealis. Continue reading...The Guardian · 10 Oct, 23:30
• Northern Lights stun UK down to England's south coastThe natural phenomenon, known as the Aurora Borealis, is the result of increased solar activity.BBC News · 10 Oct, 21:57
• Experts name when and how Northern Lights could be visible from UK this weekendAn increase in solar activity has increased the chances of seeing the northern lights in the UK this weekendThe Independent · 9 Oct, 09:57

In this story: Met Office · NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center · Earth · Scotland · Northern England · Devon · Hampshire · Kent

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