The Northern Lights could be visible over Manchester tonight (November 8), due to a strong geomagnetic storm being forecasted. So if those pesky clouds can move along, we might be getting a lovely treat this evening. The Met Office has issued a G1-G2/Minor- Moderate alert for Geomagnetic Storms as well as a chance of strong flares over the coming days.
How does an aurora display occur?
The Northern Lights (or aurora borealis) occur as a result of solar activity and from collisions of charged particles in the solar wind colliding with molecules in the Earth’s upper atmosphere. Depending on which gas molecules are hit and where they are in the atmosphere, different amounts of energy are released as different wavelengths of light.
According to the Met Office, “Oxygen gives off green light when it is hit 60 miles above the Earth, whilst at 100-200 miles rare, all-red auroras are produced. Nitrogen causes the sky to glow blue yet when higher in the atmosphere the glow has a purple hue.”
Will the Northern Lights be visible in the Manchester skies tonight?
But what are the chances of Manchester witnessing the Northern Lights tonight? The Met Office has reported that there is a chance of G3/Strong Geomagnetic Storms mainly tonight (November 8), meaning it is likely that we will see the Northern Lights in the North West skies. Watches have been forecast for between 21:00 (UTC) on Thu 6 Nov 2025 to 23:59 (UTC) on Sat 8 Nov 2025.
The Met Office said: “Several coronal mass ejections have been observed over recent days. The most notable two arrivals are expected day 1 (08 Nov), with up to three eruptions from 07 Nov possibly giving glancing blows at Earth on day 3 or 4 (09/10 Nov).
“Earth is also likely within coronal hole fast winds, with speeds outside of any coronal mass ejection influence being Strong. Barring any further coronal mass ejection influences, a slow decline from these fast winds is expected.”
Northern Hemisphere Northern Lights forecast
According to the Met Office, “Periods of enhanced aurora are likely through Saturday (UTC) due to the expected arrival of coronal mass ejections alongside fast solar winds. This could bring visible aurora to northern parts of the UK and similar latitudes, with brief glimpses possible a little further south. While some activity will potentially continue on Sunday and into Monday, this is lower confidence, with aurora visibility becoming increasingly restricted to normal background levels.”
So, hopefully, we’re in with a high chance of seeing this rare phenomenon once again in Manchester – we’ve been lucky enough just a handful of times.