Key Takeaways
- An M5.8 solar flare from sunspot AR4436 erupted on 10 May, launching a fast CME toward Earth
- A glancing blow is forecast to arrive on Wednesday 13 May — G1 minor storm conditions are possible
- Scotland and northern England have the best chance; southern England is a long shot at G1 level
- Best viewing window is 22:00–02:00 BST — face north, escape light pollution
- 2026 is Solar Maximum — one of the best years in a decade to see Northern Lights from the UK
📑 Table of Contents
The Sun fired a billion-tonne cloud of charged plasma toward Earth on Sunday — and if the forecast holds, parts of the UK could be treated to a display of the Northern Lights as soon as tonight, Wednesday 13 May. Here is everything you need to know.
What Caused This Alert?
At 09:39 EDT on Sunday 10 May, the Sun erupted with a moderate M5.8 solar flare from active sunspot region AR4436. The flare itself lasted only a few minutes, but the explosion was powerful enough to launch a coronal mass ejection (CME) — a vast bubble of magnetised solar plasma — into space.
The eruption was strong enough to cause temporary high-frequency radio blackouts over the Atlantic Ocean, disrupting communications used by aircraft and maritime operators. That is a useful indicator of its energy.
Initial modelling suggests the bulk of the ejected material will travel slightly east of Earth — but the outer edge of the expanding cloud is forecast to deliver a glancing blow around early Wednesday morning UTC. Think of it like a lorry passing close enough that you feel the draft without being directly hit. That indirect brush is still expected to produce G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm conditions — enough to push the aurora oval noticeably southward.
When Could the Northern Lights Be Visible?
NOAA and the UK Met Office currently forecast the CME arriving at Earth in the early hours of Wednesday 13 May UTC, with geomagnetic activity building through the day and potentially peaking Wednesday evening into Thursday morning.
The best window to look is 22:00 to 02:00 BST, when UK skies are at their darkest. In May, nights are shorter than in winter and twilight lingers well past 21:00, so the later end of that window gives you the clearest dark sky.
One important caveat: space weather is not a precise science. The CME may arrive stronger or weaker than expected, or its magnetic orientation may not couple well with Earth's field at all. A G1 watch is a genuine possibility, not a guarantee. The smartest move is to set an alert on AuroraWatch UK and let it tell you when conditions are actually elevated — then head out.
Where in the UK Can You See Them?
Aurora visibility depends on two things: your latitude and the intensity of the geomagnetic storm. Under the currently forecast G1 level (Kp 5), here is a plain-English guide for UK locations:
Scotland — Very likely. The whole of Scotland sits comfortably within the auroral zone under G1 conditions. The Highlands, Cairngorms, Orkney, and Shetland offer the best combination of latitude and dark skies. Even city-dwellers in Edinburgh or Glasgow may see a green glow sitting low on the northern horizon.
Northern England and Northern Ireland — Good chance. Northumberland (one of England's darkest counties), the Lake District, North York Moors, and the Yorkshire Dales all have realistic prospects. Belfast and the north coast of Northern Ireland are similarly well-placed.
Wales, the Midlands, and southern England — Unlikely under G1, but possible if the storm strengthens. Snowdonia, the Brecon Beacons, and Dartmoor are marginal at Kp 5 but would come into range if conditions escalate to G2 or above. It is always worth a check of the northern horizon even if you are further south — aurora cameras have surprised people in unexpected places many times over the last two years.
How to See the Northern Lights Tonight
You do not need any equipment — but a few simple steps will make the difference between seeing a display and missing it entirely.
- Get dark. Even a modest aurora is washed out by nearby town glow. Use lightpollutionmap.info to find a dark patch near you, and get at least a mile from street lights.
- Face north. Under minor storm conditions, the aurora usually sits low on the northern horizon. Don't look straight up — scan the horizon from north-northwest to north-northeast.
- Give your eyes 20 minutes. Every time you look at your phone screen you reset your dark adaptation. Put it face-down and let your eyes adjust properly before deciding there's nothing to see.
- Use your phone camera. Modern smartphones — especially in Night Mode or Pro mode — are extraordinarily good at detecting aurora. Point your camera north, hold it steady, and take a shot even if you can't see anything obvious. The camera may surprise you.
- Be patient and keep checking. Aurora activity switches on and off over minutes. If nothing is visible at 22:00, try again at midnight and 01:00.
Why 2026 Is One of the Best Years Ever for Aurora in the UK
This alert is not a one-off — it is part of a remarkable window for UK aurora watchers. We are currently at or very near the peak of Solar Cycle 25, known as Solar Maximum.
The Sun goes through an 11-year cycle of rising and falling activity, measured by sunspot count. At Solar Maximum, activity is at its highest: more sunspots form, more flares erupt, and CMEs are launched far more frequently. That translates directly into more aurora events that are powerful enough to reach UK latitudes.
Over the past two years, the Northern Lights have been photographed from Cornwall, Kent, the Channel Islands, and even central London during the most powerful storms. While those southern sightings required G4 or G5 conditions — much stronger than tonight's forecast — the increased frequency of storms means that opportunities like tonight's are happening several times a year rather than once a decade.
Solar Maximum is expected to tail off through 2027, so 2026 is genuinely your last chance to catch this elevated activity while it lasts. If you have always wanted to see the Northern Lights without flying to Norway, keep a close eye on the space weather forecasts throughout this year.
How to Stay Updated Tonight
Aurora forecasts evolve rapidly as the CME approaches and its exact parameters become clearer. The best places to track this event in real time:
- AuroraWatch UK (Lancaster University) — free email and app alerts. Set it now and you will get pinged the moment conditions are elevated enough to see aurora from your latitude.
- Met Office Space Weather — the official UK forecast service, updated several times daily during active events.
- SpaceWeatherLive — real-time Kp index, aurora oval maps, and solar activity tracker. Their app lets you set a Kp threshold notification.
- SpaceWeather.com — daily solar activity bulletins and ongoing aurora alerts.
Good luck out there — and if you manage to capture something, share it with @watchthestarsuk on Instagram. We would love to see your shots. Clear skies! 🔭
📡 Live Updates: This post is updated whenever a new aurora event is forecast for the UK. Bookmark it and check back — we refresh it rather than writing a new article each time, so you always get the latest information in one place.
