Explore current aurora conditions across Britain and official NOAA geomagnetic storm forecasts.
Northern Lights activity and potential visibility across Britain, using NOAA space-weather forecasts.
Source: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center. NOAA forecast data refreshed every 30 minutes. Grey means information is unavailable, not that aurora is unlikely. Actual visibility depends on darkness, cloud cover and local conditions.
Track recent geomagnetic activity and official space-weather warnings that could influence Northern Lights visibility.
📍 Camera location: Cresswell, Northumberland, UK
Watch the skies for the Northern Lights through this externally operated aurora camera. Visibility depends on darkness, cloud cover and geomagnetic activity.
The Northern Lights, also called the aurora borealis, occur when charged particles from space interact with Earth's magnetic field and upper atmosphere. Stronger geomagnetic activity can allow auroras to become visible further south across the United Kingdom.
The planetary Kp index measures geomagnetic disturbance on a scale from 0 to 9. Higher values generally indicate stronger geomagnetic activity. However, Kp alone cannot guarantee that the Northern Lights will be visible from a particular location.
NOAA classifies geomagnetic storms from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme). G1 begins at Kp 5, while G5 corresponds to Kp 9. Stronger storms may allow auroras to reach lower latitudes.
Northern Scotland generally offers the best opportunities. During stronger geomagnetic activity, auroras may also become visible from northern England, Wales, the Midlands and occasionally southern England.
Even when aurora activity is forecast, visibility depends on darkness, cloud cover, light pollution, the direction of the auroral display and actual geomagnetic conditions. A forecast indicates potential activity, not a guaranteed sighting.
Drizl uses NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center data, including geomagnetic measurements, official alerts and aurora modelling. Forecasts are estimates and may change. For current UK cloud conditions, visit Drizl Live Weather Radar.