Hundreds of thousands of Brits reported seeing the Northern Lights from their windows last night thanks to a severe geomagnetic storm that threatens to disrupt the world’s power grids.
Pictures shared on social media showed large swathes of the country draped in a spectacular light display known as an aurora.
Amazing shades of green and purple were captured in the skies above the UK including in Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Tyne and Wear, Essex, Berkshire and Kent.
Scientists previously raised concerns that the geomagnetic storm – the first to strike Earth in almost 20 years – has the power to disrupt power grids, mobile networks and GPS satellites.
In North Tyneside thousands flocked to watch the Aurora Borealis light up the night sky above the ocean – grinding traffic to a standstill.
The road along the coast from North Shields to Whitley Bay became gridlocked with stargazers waiting up to two hours to get in and out of the area.
TYNE AND WEAR: The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, glow on the horizon at St Mary’s Lighthouse in Whitley Bay on the North East coast
![NORTHERN IRELAND: An incredible display of the Northern Lights in Dunseverick, County Antrim](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/11/00/84728093-13405913-image-a-70_1715385030895.jpg)
NORTHERN IRELAND: An incredible display of the Northern Lights in Dunseverick, County Antrim
![IRELAND: Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, illuminate the sky between 11pm and midnight last night in County Cavan](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/11/00/84727921-13405913-image-a-68_1715384678839.jpg)
IRELAND: Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, illuminate the sky between 11pm and midnight last night in County Cavan
![WHITLEY BAY: The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, glow on the horizon at St Mary's Lighthouse in Whitley Bay](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/11/01/84727503-13405913-image-a-76_1715388192851.jpg)
WHITLEY BAY: The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, glow on the horizon at St Mary’s Lighthouse in Whitley Bay
![MERSEYSIDE: People gather at Crosby Beach to look at the Aurora Borealis](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/11/00/84727507-13405913-image-a-63_1715383393128.jpg)
MERSEYSIDE: People gather at Crosby Beach to look at the Aurora Borealis
![GREATER MANCHESTER: The Aurora Borealis shine brightly behind Hartshead Pike in Tameside, Greater Manchester](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/11/01/84728435-13405913-image-a-73_1715386485986.jpg)
GREATER MANCHESTER: The Aurora Borealis shine brightly behind Hartshead Pike in Tameside, Greater Manchester
![MERSEYSIDE: The Aurora Borealis, known as the Northern Lights, is visible behind Anthony Gormley's "Another Place' sculpture in Crosby](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/11/01/84728095-13405913-image-a-84_1715388607144.jpg)
MERSEYSIDE: The Aurora Borealis, known as the Northern Lights, is visible behind Anthony Gormley’s ‘Another Place’ sculpture in Crosby
![CUMBRIA: The Northern Lights dance above the skies of Kendal in Cumbria on Friday evening giving off greens, pinks and red colour](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/11/01/84727917-13405913-image-a-89_1715388842493.jpg)
CUMBRIA: The Northern Lights dance above the skies of Kendal in Cumbria on Friday evening giving off greens, pinks and red colour
The brilliant colours of the aurora are caused by electrically charged particles from the sun colliding with the Earth’s magnetic field.
Usually, the sun only ejects enough plasma to trigger lights around the poles where the magnetic fields are at their strongest.
But during events called ‘coronal mass ejections’ the sun releases huge waves of plasma from its corona – the sun’s outermost layer.
On Thursday, a Severe (G4) Geomagnetic Storm Watch was issued for the first time since January 2005.
And the Met Office predicted that stargazers as far south as Cornwall would be able to catch a glimpse of the the light display.
Met Office Space Weather Manager Krista Hammond told MailOnline on Friday: ‘While short nights at this time of year will limit the visibility window, if conditions are right there’s a good chance of sightings on Friday night.
![NOTTINGHAM: The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, put on a show over Bingham, Nottingham](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/11/02/84729179-13405913-image-a-97_1715389312202.jpg)
NOTTINGHAM: The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, put on a show over Bingham, Nottingham
![CORNWALL: Northern Lights over Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/11/02/84729177-13405913-image-a-100_1715389345633.jpg)
CORNWALL: Northern Lights over Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall
![MERSEYSIDE: The Aurora Borealis, known as the Northern Lights, is visible in front of Anthony Gormley's "Another Place' sculpture in Crosby](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/11/01/84727509-13405913-image-a-91_1715388932297.jpg)
MERSEYSIDE: The Aurora Borealis, known as the Northern Lights, is visible in front of Anthony Gormley’s ‘Another Place’ sculpture in Crosby
![TYNE AND WEAR: People visit St Mary's lighthouse in Whitley Bay to see the aurora borealis](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/11/01/84728441-13405913-image-a-85_1715388817545.jpg)
TYNE AND WEAR: People visit St Mary’s lighthouse in Whitley Bay to see the aurora borealis
![YORKSHIRE: Northern Lights over Yorkshire at Langsett Reservoir, Barnsley](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/11/01/84728901-13405913-image-a-86_1715388822413.jpg)
YORKSHIRE: Northern Lights over Yorkshire at Langsett Reservoir, Barnsley
![KENT: The Twin Towers of the 10th century Anglo-Saxon church in Herne Bay, Kent, with the Northern Lights overhead](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/11/01/84727915-13405913-image-a-88_1715388830264.jpg)
KENT: The Twin Towers of the 10th century Anglo-Saxon church in Herne Bay, Kent, with the Northern Lights overhead
![MERSEYSIDE: Stargazers watch the Northern Lights in Whitley Bay last night](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/11/02/84729175-13405913-image-a-101_1715389386249.jpg)
MERSEYSIDE: Stargazers watch the Northern Lights in Whitley Bay last night
![IRELAND: Colourful skies in Virginia, County Cavan last night](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/11/02/84729157-13405913-image-a-102_1715389434375.jpg)
IRELAND: Colourful skies in Virginia, County Cavan last night
![MERSEYSIDE: People gather at St Mary's lighthouse near Whitley Bay to see the aurora borealis](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/11/02/84729171-13405913-image-a-105_1715389524373.jpg)
MERSEYSIDE: People gather at St Mary’s lighthouse near Whitley Bay to see the aurora borealis
![SCOTLAND: The Northern Lights at the Forth Bridges, Scotland last night](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/11/01/84728899-13405913-image-a-83_1715388562258.jpg)
SCOTLAND: The Northern Lights at the Forth Bridges, Scotland last night
![MANCHESTER: The Northern Lights were visible over Manchester on Friday night](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/11/01/84728903-13405913-image-a-78_1715388462124.jpg)
MANCHESTER: The Northern Lights were visible over Manchester on Friday night
![YORKSHIRE: Northern Lights over Yorkshire at Langsett Reservoir, Barnsley](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/11/01/84727495-13405913-image-a-93_1715389056623.jpg)
YORKSHIRE: Northern Lights over Yorkshire at Langsett Reservoir, Barnsley
![LINCOLNSHIRE: The Northern Lights captured in the sky above Skegness last night](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/10/23/84726337-13405913-The_Northern_Lights_captured_in_the_sky_above_Skegness_Lincolnsh-a-47_1715380676050.jpg)
LINCOLNSHIRE: The Northern Lights captured in the sky above Skegness last night
![MERSEYSIDE: The Aurora Borealis, known as the Northern Lights, is visible behind Anthony Gormley's "Another Place' sculpture in Crosby](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/11/01/84727501-13405913-image-a-94_1715389099674.jpg)
MERSEYSIDE: The Aurora Borealis, known as the Northern Lights, is visible behind Anthony Gormley’s ‘Another Place’ sculpture in Crosby
![LINCOLNSHIRE: The Nothern Lights appeared in the sky above Skegness, Lincolnshire tonight as part of a rare geomagnetic storm](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/10/23/84726339-13405913-The_Nothern_Lights_appeared_in_the_sky_above_Skegness_Lincolnshi-a-46_1715380676049.jpg)
LINCOLNSHIRE: The Nothern Lights appeared in the sky above Skegness, Lincolnshire tonight as part of a rare geomagnetic storm
![NORTH LONDON: The Northern Lights in North London this evening as part of a rare geomagnetic storm](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/10/23/84725705-13405913-Pictured_The_Northern_Lights_in_North_London_this_evening_as_par-a-44_1715380676047.jpg)
NORTH LONDON: The Northern Lights in North London this evening as part of a rare geomagnetic storm
![BERKSHIRE: The Northern Lights captured in Winnersh, Berkshire this evening](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/10/23/84725939-13405913-The_Northern_Lights_captured_in_Winnersh_Berkshire_this_evening-a-48_1715380676051.jpg)
BERKSHIRE: The Northern Lights captured in Winnersh, Berkshire this evening
![ESSEX: The Northern Lights captured in Essex - the sky turned purple and green as part of the geomagnetic storm](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/10/23/84726435-13405913-The_Northern_Lights_captured_in_Essex_the_sky_turned_purple_and_-a-53_1715380676060.jpg)
ESSEX: The Northern Lights captured in Essex – the sky turned purple and green as part of the geomagnetic storm
![Pictures shared on social media show large swathes of the country draped in a spectacular light display known as an aurora](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/10/23/84726193-13405913-Pictures_shared_on_social_media_show_large_swathes_of_the_countr-a-45_1715380676048.jpg)
Pictures shared on social media show large swathes of the country draped in a spectacular light display known as an aurora
![KENT: The Northern Lights in the skies above Kent](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/11/00/84726977-13405913-image-a-62_1715382089913.jpg)
KENT: The Northern Lights in the skies above Kent
![HERTFORDSHIRE: The Northern Lights Aurora Borealis over Tring in Hertfordshire tonight](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/11/00/84728091-13405913-image-a-71_1715385094682.jpg)
HERTFORDSHIRE: The Northern Lights Aurora Borealis over Tring in Hertfordshire tonight
![WHITLEY BAY: People visit St Mary's lighthouse in Whitley Bay to see the aurora borealis, commonly known as the northern lights](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/11/01/84728437-13405913-image-a-74_1715386579572.jpg)
WHITLEY BAY: People visit St Mary’s lighthouse in Whitley Bay to see the aurora borealis, commonly known as the northern lights
![HAMPSHIRE: The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, glow on the horizon over Basingstoke in Hampshire](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/11/00/84728089-13405913-image-a-72_1715385155328.jpg)
HAMPSHIRE: The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, glow on the horizon over Basingstoke in Hampshire
![KENT: The Northern Lights caused by a powerful solar storm over the sea at Herne Bay in Kent](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/11/00/84727919-13405913-image-a-69_1715384684291.jpg)
KENT: The Northern Lights caused by a powerful solar storm over the sea at Herne Bay in Kent
![On Thursday, a Severe (G4) Geomagnetic Storm Watch was issued for the first time since January 2005. Pictured: The Northern Lights over the UK](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/10/23/84726191-13405913-On_Thursday_a_Severe_G4_Geomagnetic_Storm_Watch_was_issued_for_t-a-49_1715380676053.jpg)
On Thursday, a Severe (G4) Geomagnetic Storm Watch was issued for the first time since January 2005. Pictured: The Northern Lights over the UK
![SURREY: The brilliant colours of the aurora are caused by electrically charged particles from the sun colliding with the Earth's magnetic field](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/10/23/84726189-13405913-The_brilliant_colours_of_the_aurora_are_caused_by_electrically_c-a-50_1715380676054.jpg)
SURREY: The brilliant colours of the aurora are caused by electrically charged particles from the sun colliding with the Earth’s magnetic field
![ESSEX: The Northern Lights above Great Dunmow, Essex](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/10/23/84726187-13405913-Pictured_The_Northern_Lights_above_Great_Dunmow_Essex-a-51_1715380676055.jpg)
ESSEX: The Northern Lights above Great Dunmow, Essex
![YORKSHIRE: Northern Lights over Yorkshire at Langsett Reservoir, Barnsley](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/11/00/84727497-13405913-image-a-65_1715383463250.jpg)
YORKSHIRE: Northern Lights over Yorkshire at Langsett Reservoir, Barnsley
![ESSEX: The Northern Lights appeared in the sky above Essex](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/10/23/84726441-13405913-Pictured_The_Northern_Lights_in_Essex-a-55_1715380927584.jpg)
ESSEX: The Northern Lights appeared in the sky above Essex
![HERTFORDSHIRE: The Northern Lights over Tring in Hertfordshire tonight](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/11/00/84727505-13405913-image-a-66_1715383488167.jpg)
HERTFORDSHIRE: The Northern Lights over Tring in Hertfordshire tonight
![DERBYSHIRE: The Northern Lights captured in Derbyshire this evening](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/10/23/84726653-13405913-DERBYSHIRE_-a-59_1715381003178.jpg)
DERBYSHIRE: The Northern Lights captured in Derbyshire this evening
‘Aurora visibility may persist through Saturday night, but as it stands this is likely to be less widespread than on Friday night with northern parts of the UK most likely to continue to have the best viewing potential.’
Mathew Owens, professor of space physics at the University of Reading, also said it’s worth looking north in the night’s sky at around 2am UK time tonight (early Saturday morning).
‘If you’re late to bed or up before sunrise, it’s worth looking north as you may see the Northern Lights,’ he said.
‘A strong aurora is probable for Scotland and northern England (and the weather looks to be cooperating for optimal viewing).
‘It may stretch further south, but until we have those magnetic field measurements when the CMEs arrive, it’s hard to say.’