Home / Weather News /

Now is your chance to see the aurora!

09:30
14 October 2024

Solar maximum
Now is your chance to see the aurora!

The aurora captured on Thursday 10th October 2024 in Mid-Wales. - © Brad Hewitt

If you dream of seeing the northern lights, then this year is your year.

This is because 2024 will be the solar maximum, the period of greatest solar activity. The solar cycle lasts approximately 11 years, with a minimum and a maximum roughly every 6.5 years.

Throughout a solar cycle, sunspot numbers, indicative of solar activity, rise during the solar maximum and decline during the solar minimum, providing a measure of the overall intensity of the cycle. The solar maximum is the highest peak of activity during the solar cycle.

Scientists discovered that the solar maximum, named Solar Cycle 25, is peaking throughout most of 2024, remaining strong into early 2025 too.

The good news from that is, the more solar activity, the brighter and stronger the aurora displays.

In the solar maximum, increased sunspot activity will result in increased solar wind and an influx of charged particles in the atmosphere.

As a result, the chance of frequent and intense aurora displays rises, as does observing the northern lights at lower latitudes, which is exactly what we have already been seeing.

Recent aurora captured by you!read more
More on the topic
Temperature map showing maximum values at the beginning of next week and wind radar showing a storm system over the Atlantic that is directing mild air towards Europe
Thursday, 4 December 2025

Gusty in the UK & Ireland

Storms will soon bring spring air
Split image showing a towering storm cloud with rain shafts over the sea on the left and a vivid red aurora illuminating the night sky above residential rooftops on the right, divided by a curved white line.
Tuesday, 9 December 2025

Your weather - Your shots

Autumn captured by you
Shooting stars, part of the Geminid meteor shower.
Saturday, 13 December 2025

Spot a shooting star

King of meteor showers at its peak
All weather news
This might also interest you
Weather map of the UK and Ireland showing scattered showers with cloudy patches across much of the region, especially around western and northern areas. Sunshine symbols appear over London, Cardiff, and parts of southern England, while temperatures range from 17°C to 18°C in most places. Areas of heavier rain are visible over the Atlantic to the west.
Friday, 29 August 2025

Breakfast brief

Unsettled conditions into the weekend
Friday, 22 August 2025

Breakfast brief

Sunny start for some, overcast later
Weather graphic showing rain and wind fields over the Canary Islands and a central warning symbol.
Friday, 12 December 2025

Storm and rain

Turbulent weather in the Canary Islands
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwittertikToklinkList