Northern Lights dazzle skies across the UK
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Northern Lights dazzles skies across the UK
Image source: BBC Weather Watchers / Jonny Gios
Image caption: Kendal in Cumbria paid host to the breathtaking scenes on Saturday
By Joe Coughlan and Chris Fawkes, Lead Weather Presenter
Published 10 October 2026
Updated 7 minutes ago
Residents across the UK were left stunned as the sky was illuminated by the spectacular colours of the Northern Lights on Friday and Saturday evenings.
The natural phenomenon, known as the Aurora Borealis, is the result of increased solar activity. Such occurrences are mostly visible near the Arctic Circle and northern Scotland, but particularly strong activity levels meant they could be seen across Wales and as far south as Devon, Hampshire and Kent on Saturday night.
The Met Office has said sightings could continue to be possible during clear skies until Tuesday.
Image source: BBC Weather Watchers / Simon Luckman 1988
Image caption: The phenomenon was visible as a pink haze in Winterton-on-Sea, Norfolk, on Friday
Image source: BBC Weather Watchers / Isle Explorer
Image caption: Owston Ferry in North Lincolnshire was graced by a stunning purple haze
Image source: BBC Weather Waters / Ruth Davies
Image caption: This was the scene above Clawddnewydd in Denbighshire, north Wales
Image source: BBC Weather Watchers / Lucy
Image caption: And this was the picture-perfect view in south west Wales, from Tenby in Pembrokeshire
Image source: BBC Weather Watchers / ChelseaPhil
Image caption: Sightings stretched to Herne Bay in Kent
Northern Lights are caused by powerful solar eruptions from the Sun, called coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Towards the end of last week, the Sun was observed to unleash CMEs directed towards the Earth. This stream of charged particles can get captured by the Earth's magnetic field and directed into our atmosphere, especially towards polar regions. When these charged particles collide with oxygen and nitrogen, photons of coloured light are emitted - this is the aurora.
Image source: BBC Weather Watchers / Sarah n Essie
Image caption: Revellers were able to take in a mix of green and purple in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire
Image source: BBC Weather Watchers / Hol
Image caption: Stenness on Scotland's Orkney Islands served as a strong location for the phenomenon
Image source: BBC Weather Watchers / Hannah and Ben
Image caption: The sky was illuminated in Holmwood, Surrey
The chances of seeing the aurora vary across the UK depending upon its strength. When activity levels reach 200nT (nanotesla) the aurora would be visible in the north of the UK, but not the south. On Saturday evening, those levels reached 600nT, meaning it would be visible across the whole of the UK, even in the south, which is a much rarer phenomenon.
Experts have previously said 2026 will be a peak year for aurora-spotting as the Sun has been in a heightened state of activity as part of its 11-year natural cycle.