Major geomagnetic storms visible from the UK — from the historic G5 event of May 2024 to the most recent displays. Each entry includes storm class, UK visibility, and community photos.
Why so many storms lately?
We are at the peak of Solar Cycle 25 — the most active solar period since 2003. The Sun's activity follows an approximately 11-year cycle, and the current cycle reached solar maximum around late 2024. High sunspot numbers mean more X-class flares and CMEs aimed at Earth, producing the extraordinary run of UK-visible aurora events since 2023.
G1 — Minor
G2 — Moderate
G3 — Strong
G4 — Severe
G5 — Extreme
G5 · Kp 910 May 2024 – 12 May 2024
May 2024 — The Great British Aurora
The most powerful geomagnetic storm in 20 years lit up the sky across the entire UK.
UK visibility:Visible across the entire UK including London, Cornwall, and Northern Ireland.
On the night of 10–11 May 2024, a series of X-class solar flares and associated coronal mass ejections (CMEs) triggered a G5 Extreme geomagnetic storm — the strongest since the Halloween Storms of 2003. The Kp index reached 9 (the maximum), and aurora was visible as far south as the south coast of England, the Azores, and even parts of Spain. Millions of people across the UK saw vivid greens, pinks, and purples with the naked eye for the first time in their lives. Social media was flooded with photographs from back gardens across Britain. The event was so widespread that even light-polluted city skies showed colour on camera. A second wave of activity followed on 11–12 May, extending the display over two nights.
G4 · Kp 810 October 2024 – 11 October 2024
October 2024 — G4 Severe Storm
A second major storm in 2024 brought aurora back to England and Wales.
UK visibility:Scotland, northern England, Wales. Faint on camera across the Midlands.
October 2024 brought a second exceptional display, with Kp reaching 8 during a G4 Severe geomagnetic storm. The storm was triggered by an M-class flare and associated CME from active region AR3842. Aurora was visible across Scotland, northern England, and Wales, with faint displays reported from the Midlands and south-west England on camera. The event confirmed 2024 as one of the most active aurora years for the UK in recent memory, with the Sun approaching solar maximum in Solar Cycle 25.
G4 · Kp 823 March 2024 – 24 March 2024
March 2024 — G4 Storm
Spring equinox storm: one of the year's first major displays.
UK visibility:Scotland, northern England. Best views from Northumberland, Cumbria, and Scottish Highlands.
March 2024 saw the first major geomagnetic storm of the year, arriving around the spring equinox — a time historically associated with stronger aurora due to the Russell-McPherron effect, which enhances the coupling between the solar wind and Earth's magnetosphere around the equinoxes. Kp peaked at 8 during the evening of 23 March. Northern England and Scotland enjoyed clear skies in places, with widespread photography from the Lake District, Northumberland, and the Scottish Highlands. This event served as a preview of the remarkable aurora season that would follow in May.
G3 · Kp 726 February 2025 – 27 February 2025
February 2025 — G3 Storm
Late winter display visible across Scotland and northern England.
UK visibility:Scotland, northern England, and Northern Ireland.
A G3 Strong geomagnetic storm in late February 2025 brought aurora activity to Scotland and northern England during a period of relatively clear winter skies. Kp peaked at 7, with displays reported from Shetland, the Cairngorms, and Northumberland National Park. The storm was driven by a fast-moving CME that arrived slightly ahead of forecast, giving chasers little warning — a reminder of why monitoring Bz in real time is essential for catching displays.
See Hp30 history
Browse the daily Hp30 chart and storm event table for all recorded activity since Auroracast launched.
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