Northern Lights Illuminate UK and US Skies After Solar Storm

Residents across the UK and parts of the United States saw Northern Lights displays after powerful solar eruptions sent charged particles toward Earth, with strong geomagnetic activity allowing auroras to appear farther south than usual.

The BBC reported that auroras reached areas as far south as Devon, Hampshire and Kent on Saturday evening. The Met Office said sightings could remain possible in clear skies until Tuesday.

The solar activity was linked to coronal mass ejections from the Sun. According to the BBC, charged particles from these eruptions interact with Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere, creating the colored lights known as auroras.

On Saturday evening, geomagnetic activity reached 600 nanotesla, according to the BBC. The level was strong enough for auroras to become visible across the UK, including southern areas where such displays are much less common.

Space.com reported that four coronal mass ejections were moving toward Earth after activity from sunspot region AR4549. The additional eruptions increased the possibility of enhanced auroral conditions over several days.

NOAA forecasts cited by Space.com indicated that stronger geomagnetic conditions could affect northern North America, with previous storms of similar strength producing aurora sightings as far south as New York and Idaho.

The exact extent of the displays depended on how the incoming solar eruptions interacted with Earth's magnetic field. Space.com reported that the timing and intensity remained difficult to predict because multiple coronal mass ejections were traveling close together.

The BBC said the Sun is currently experiencing heightened activity as part of its natural 11-year cycle, making 2026 a notable period for aurora observations. The Met Office said Scotland and areas at similar geomagnetic latitudes could continue to have viewing opportunities during clear skies.