Major red alert issued as chances to see Northern Lights ‘likely’

Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) which erupted from the Sun will strike Earth leading to the dazzling show

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Brits could catch dazzling lights tonight as officials say it is ‘likely’ Northern Lights will appear. The phenomenon happens as the debris from a massive Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) which erupted from the Sun on Monday, finally strikes Earth leading to the dazzling show.

Space weather conditions are perfect for a display this weekend, with a period of intense solar activity meaning the beautiful lights will be visible across many parts of the UK. The AuroraWatch UK account on X posted the alert this afternoon, stating: “Red alert: aurora likely.”

The CME is a large cloud of plasma ejected into space, it usually accompanies a Solar Flare, which is an eruption of light and radiation. When the disruption from the CME reaches Earth, interactions with our planet’s magnetic field cause the iconic lights in the upper atmosphere.

Solar activity could remain high, according to the Met Office‘s Space Weather Forecast, meaning the aurora could be widely seen again tonight, The Mirror reports.

It said: “Solar winds will be between slightly elevated and elevated at first, following the arrival of the second of the anticipated CMEs. Several further CME arrivals are forecast to potentially arrive at or near to Earth through March 21, likely increasing solar winds to become elevated to strong at times.

“In addition a coronal hole fast wind is expected from March 21 and this could maintain elevated to strong solar wind through the period.”

The northern lights are also more likely to be seen at this time of year as around the spring equinox the Earth’s alignment with the Sun means it is more exposed to solar wind activity.

For a strong chance of seeing the aurora find a dark location without light pollution and facing north.

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