Northern Lights return tonight as specialists share Brits’ finest likelihood to catch them

On May 20, 2024

Northern Lights are set to return to the UK’s skies tonight as the once-in-a-lifetime spectacle is back . . . for a third time this month.

Thanks to a series of solar storms from an over-active sun, Brits have been able to look up and see an array of astonishing colours in the sky for the first time in decades – meaning the annual pilgrimage some make to Iceland hasn’t been needed this year.

Although do be careful not to make the same mistake as one couple who were lured in by the bright lights of a Premier Inn earlier this month.

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And while many thought that the sighting at the start of the month was the one and only chance to see them, it has now been confirmed that the lights are coming back for the third time this month, and that Brits could see them tonight.

The display returns to the UK once more
(Image: PA)

Issuing a red alert, the Met Office said: “An enhancement to the aurora may occur on Monday night (May 20-21) following the possible arrival of a coronal mass ejection (CME) that left the sun late Friday, May 17.

“Following any CME arrival aurora may become visible, where skies are clear, across parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland, with a slight chance that views of the aurora may also be possible from northern England and North Wales.

“Following this auroral activity is expected to decline, although confidence is lower than usual however and some slight enhancement to the aurora at times can’t be ruled out.”

Brits have been told when to look up
(Image: Getty Images)

It is estimated that from around 9pm tonight, most people in the Northern half of the UK could see the lights. And Met Office space expert Krista Hammond said that this is due to the sun being at “solar maximum”

She added: “The sunspot region will be be coming back round onto the Earth facing side of the sun. If we see more sunspots, we see this increased frequency in space weather and therefore the aurora.”

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