The Northern Lights are set to grace UK skies tonight following a severe solar storm, pushing the aurora borealis further south than usual. The phenomenon, triggered by a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) that struck Earth on Monday, has already produced stunning displays across the northern hemisphere, including parts of the US as far south as New Mexico.
In the UK, the aurora has been visible in areas such as Cornwall, Scotland, and northern England. The Met Office expects further activity tonight, though it will likely be confined to northern regions. The agency predicts that auroral activity will decline by the evening of 20 January, with the best viewing times between 6pm and 11.59pm.
Scotland and Northern Ireland are expected to have the clearest views, although cloudy conditions may limit sightings. The Met Office notes that for the aurora to be visible further south, a geomagnetic storm of Kp8 or 9 is required, which is rare. Tonight's activity is forecast to reach only Kp7, keeping the display in the north.
