The Northern lights appeared over Wales for the first time this autumn
07:48, 02 Sep 2025Updated 07:50, 02 Sep 2025
The Northern Lights shining above the Brecon Beacons on Monday, September 1.(Image: Joe Jones (@joejonespics on Instagram))
The Northern Lights were captured on camera in Wales for the first time this autumn on Monday night. This picture of the aurora were captured by Joe Jones just off the A4069, near the Black Mountain Quarry in Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons,
Space weather experts flagged the possibility of aurora displays on Monday afternoon following satellite detection of a solar surface eruption – referred to as a coronal mass ejection. The heightened solar energy journeyed into our atmosphere, where it combined with oxygen and nitrogen to produce the distinctive purple, green and red hues characteristic of the aurora.
Whilst aurora sightings are fairly routine across northern regions of the UK, more powerful solar storms are required for visibility further south. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here
The US Space Weather Prediction Center verified a “moderate geomagnetic storm” reaching G2 on a scale spanning G1-G5. They forecast the potential for an intensified storm reaching G3 levels on Tuesday.
The Met Office Space Weather Centre indicates a G4 severe storm could materialise on Tuesday night extending into Wednesday morning. This would significantly enhance prospects for aurora visibility throughout the UK, possibly even observable without optical aids.
Come Wednesday, activity is expected to return to typical levels.
The Northern Lights, also called the Aurora Borealis, are colourful lights that appear in the sky near the North Pole. You can often see them in places like Norway, Canada, Alaska, and Iceland.
They happen because the sun sends out tiny charged particles that travel through space. Sometimes, the sun gets very active and sends more of these particles toward Earth.
When these particles reach Earth, most of them are stopped by Earth’s magnetic field, which protects us like a shield. But near the North and South Poles, the magnetic field lets some particles slip into the atmosphere.
When these particles bump into gases in the air, like oxygen and nitrogen, they make those gases glow. This glowing creates the beautiful lights we see in the sky.
The colours you see depend on the gases and how high up the collisions happen. Oxygen usually makes green or red light, and nitrogen can make blue or purple light.
The Northern Lights are a natural light show caused by the Sun’s energy interacting with Earth’s magnetic field and air – they remind us how connected our planet is to the space around it.
The best time to see the Northern Lights is during the dark winter months, from September to March. During this time, the nights are longer and skies are darker, which makes it easier to spot the lights. It’s also a good idea to avoid nights when the moon is very bright, as moonlight can make the aurora harder to see.
To increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights, it is important to find a location with dark skies, away from city lights and other sources of light pollution. Rural areas with wide-open views of the sky are ideal.
Clear skies are also essential for a good view of the Northern Lights, so always check the weather forecast as well. Clouds can block the lights completely, so aim for nights with little or no cloud cover.
Checking the aurora forecast before you go can be very helpful. There are websites and apps that track solar activity and predict when the Northern Lights are most likely to appear. One key number to watch is the KP index, which measures geomagnetic activity. A KP value of 5 or higher means there is a good chance of seeing the aurora.