Wales gets dazzling display of Northern Lights

11 May 2024

Nicholas Bourne,BBC News

BBC Weather Watcher Professormiller captured green hues in the sky over Mold, Flintshire

Professormiller | BBC Weather Watchers Northern Lights over Mold — BBC Weather Watcher Professormiller captured green hues in the sky over Mold, Flintshire

Wales was treated to a breathtaking display overnight from the Northern Lights.

Dozens of BBC Weather Watchers captured the aurora borealis on camera across the whole of Wales including Anglesey, Flintshire, Powys, Ceredigion, Merthyr Tydfil and Swansea.

They could be seen after one of the strongest geomagnetic storms for years hit Earth, with the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issuing a rare solar storm warning.

Such storms increase people's chances of seeing the lights.

BBC Wales weatherman Derek Brockway described the sights as a "treat" on X, formerly Twitter, after he saw them for himself at Pendine, Carmarthenshire.

BBC Weather Watcher Gail took this photograph at Penycae, Powys

Gail weather watchers | BBC Weather Watchers Northern Lights over Penycae, Powys — BBC Weather Watcher Gail took this photograph at Penycae, Powys

BBC reporter Gareth Williams was at Moelfre, Anglesey, to catch the display

Gareth Williams Northern Lights over Moelfre, Anglesey — BBC reporter Gareth Williams was at Moelfre, Anglesey, to catch the display

BBC Weather Watcher Amy took this photograph at Tywyn, Gwynedd

Amy | BBC Weather Watchers Northern Lights over Tywyn, Gwynedd — BBC Weather Watcher Amy took this photograph at Tywyn, Gwynedd

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BBC Weather Watcher Spitfire Debbie saw pinkish hues dazzle the sky at Llangoedmor, Ceredigion

Spitfire Debbie | BBC Weather Watchers Northern lights — BBC Weather Watcher Spitfire Debbie saw pinkish hues dazzle the sky at Llangoedmor, Ceredigion

Mel Gribble picked a spectacular backdrop for this view from Talley Abbey, Carmarthenshire

Mel Gribble Castel ruins silhouetted against pinkish hues — Mel Gribble picked a spectacular backdrop for this view from Talley Abbey, Carmarthenshire

BBC Weather Watcher BeaconsJon was in Treharris, Merthyr Tydfil, to photograph this scene

BeaconsJon | BBC Weather Watchers Northern Lights over Treharris, Merthyr Tydfil — BBC Weather Watcher BeaconsJon was in Treharris, Merthyr Tydfil, to photograph this scene

The aurora borealis over the cathedral at Bangor, Gwynedd, courtesy of Sam Jones

Sam Jones Northern Lights over Bangor Cathedral — The aurora borealis over the cathedral at Bangor, Gwynedd, courtesy of Sam Jones

The displays was also caught on camera by BBC Weather Watcher Surfkingsteve behind wind turbines in Swansea

Surfkingsteve | BBC Weather Watchers Northern Lights over Swansea — The displays was also caught on camera by BBC Weather Watcher Surfkingsteve behind wind turbines in Swansea

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