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Daily Record
Daily Record
Science
Daniel Morrow

Northern Lights to be visible in Scotland as NASA warns of solar storm 'direct hit'

The Northern Lights is expected to be visible in Scotland tomorrow, according to forecasters.

Experts at the Met Office’s space weather team said that a coronal mass ejection - or CME - will arrive on Earth later today.

The auroral oval is expected to be enhanced on Thursday, which will bring a chance of the Northern Lights being visible in northern Scotland.

The Met Office states: “The auroral oval may be enhanced early on 13th April due to the possible arrival of a weak coronal mass ejection, though any aurora will likely be limited to high latitudes.

“A further enhancement is possible on 14th April, with a chance fo a CME arriving bringing aurora to northern Scotland and similar latitudes.”

News of the aurora’s arrival in Scotland comes after the Mirror reported of a geomagnetic storm expected to hit Earth on Thursday.

This is could cause power, GPS and radio blackouts.

Space weather physicist Tamitha Skov took to Twitter with the warning.

(Getty Images/Science Photo Library RF)

She wrote: “Direct hit - solar storm prediction models from both NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration) and NASA show the storm hits April 14, just ahead of a fast solar wind stream.

“This should intensify the storm as the stream will give it a push from behind.”

Dr Skov added: “Chances of reaching G2-level conditions are 80 per cent at high latitudes and 20 per cent as mid-latitudes.

“Radio blackout risk remains low, but amateur radio operators and GPS users face disruptions on Earth’s nightside.”

On the Northern Lights chances, she said: “Aurora field reporters, be sure to charge your camera batteries.”

Scots in the north are often lucky enough to capture a glimpse of the ethereal bands of light which are caused by particles expelled by the sun interacting with the Earth’s magnetic shield.

When these particles meet the shield they are "pulled" to the north and south poles.

As they interact, the energy is released as a beautiful corona of dancing rays of light that are visible from below.

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