Northern Lights set to be visible across UK as space weather forecasters predict next sighting

The latest sun storm activity follows a series of solar flares combined to form a huge burst of solar plasma.

Met Office space weather expert Krista Hammond said the sunspot region will be rotated back towards Earth in 10 to 12 days’ time – paving the way for another display of the Northern Lights.

She said: “The sunspot region will be be coming back round onto the Earth facing side of the sun.”

The lights, or aurora borealis, are seen in the sky when electrically charged particles from the sun travel across space and collide with Earth’s atmosphere.

The sun is currently in the most active period of its 11-year cycle.

Hammond added: “We’re currently at solar maximum and we’re seeing more sunspots.

“If we see more sunspots, we see this increased frequency in space weather and therefore the aurora.”

More to follow…