Look up, Exeter! Northern Lights may light up Devon skies this week

Stargazers in Exeter could be in for a rare treat this week, with the Northern Lights potentially visible across parts of southern England following a series of powerful solar storms hitting Earth.

The Met Office has issued a severe geomagnetic storm watch (G4–G5) from Wednesday afternoon through to Thursday night (12–13 November), as multiple coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the Sun reach the planet’s atmosphere. 

The intense space weather activity could cause spectacular displays of the aurora borealis to appear much further south than usual.

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According to the latest forecast, the aurora is expected to be most visible overnight from Wednesday into Thursday across northern parts of the UK, but there is also a chance of sightings further south, including across England and Wales. 

Clear skies will be key and while some cloud cover is expected across Devon, there may still be windows of opportunity for a glimpse of green and pink light dancing on the horizon.

The Met Office said three solar eruptions are likely to interact with Earth’s magnetic field between Tuesday night and Thursday morning, creating conditions for “strong to severe geomagnetic storms”. 

In technical terms, the space weather alert includes Kp index warnings up to G4, meaning the aurora could extend unusually far south.

The best chance of spotting the Northern Lights in Exeter will be during the darkest hours of the night, away from city lights. 

Local experts recommend heading to higher ground or open countryside with a clear northern view - such as Exminster Marshes, Haldon Forest, or Dartmoor’s northern edge-  if skies remain clear.

While the event offers an exciting viewing opportunity, the Met Office notes that the same geomagnetic conditions can also affect satellite communications, GPS signals, and even parts of the national power grid, though significant impacts are not currently expected.

The Northern Lights, caused by charged particles from the Sun colliding with Earth’s magnetic field, are typically only visible in northern latitudes like Scotland, Iceland or Scandinavia. However, strong solar storms like this week’s can bring the spectacle much farther south, as far as Cornwall and Devon.

The Met Office’s Space Weather team said the enhanced aurora activity could persist into Thursday morning before easing by the end of the week.

For those hoping to catch a glimpse in Exeter, experts advise checking the latest aurora forecasts and keeping an eye on local weather conditions. Even a brief break in the clouds could reveal one of nature’s most mesmerising light shows.