The UK may witness the captivating Northern Lights display tonight and possibly tomorrow as well, according to the latest forecast from the Met Office.
The national weather agency recently announced the potential visibility of the aurora borealis phenomenon in certain parts of England and Scotland on Thursday, Friday, and possibly Saturday. This forecast is attributed to the expected coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the Sun, which are powerful releases of plasma and magnetic fields known to cause geomagnetic storms, auroras, and potential disruptions to satellites and power grids.
The Met Office’s space weather forecast for the Northern Hemisphere indicates the likelihood of multiple CMEs arriving on March 20-21, with enhanced auroral visibility expected on subsequent nights, especially Friday and Saturday evenings. Clear skies over Scotland and northern England may offer visibility of the aurora.
While the week started with the hottest day of the year, the Met Office warns of possible snowfall in some UK regions over the coming weekend. Clouds and scattered rain are predicted to move southeastward on Sunday, with a chance of snow showers in northern areas and hilly regions.
Steve Willington, the Met Office Chief Forecaster, highlighted the typical variability of March weather, mentioning the transition to cooler conditions next week with potential hill snow in the north and occasional brisk winds. This weather pattern is deemed customary for this time of year.