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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Laura Ferguson

Northern Lights could be visible over Scotland tonight - weather forecast and when you may see them

Scotland could be treated to the world's most spectacular natural light show tonight - if clouds don't get in the way.

The Northern Lights may be visible over the next two nights, as a solar flare hits the planet.

The Met Office has said lucky stargazers in Glasgow may even catch a glimpse of the aurora borealis, as long as the weather decides to cooperate.

A geomagnetic storm warning for Monday and Tuesday was issued by the Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) in the US.

A geomagnetic storm is a major disturbance of Earth that occurs when there is a very efficient exchange of energy from the solar wind into the space environment surrounding Earth.

The Nothern Lights could be visible over Scotland tonight. (Andrew Allan)

Geomagnetic storms can disrupt global navigational systems and create harmful geomagnetic induced currents (GICs) in the power grid and pipelines.

The result of this can often lead to a display of the Northern Lights.

AuroraWatchUK has also issued an "amber alert" for aurora borealis and predicted "minor geomagnetic activity".

What is the weather forecast for tonight?

Bad news for stargazers - the Met Office is predicting that tonight with be cloudy and overcast.

The forecast reads: "Mainly dry and cloudy, although patchy light rain and drizzle is possible. A mild night with some mist and hill fog. Minimum temperature 10 °C."

This could sadly impede possible views of the Northern Lights.

What time can you see the Northern Lights?

AuroraWatch UK, is run by Lancaster University, has said the Northern Lights are most likely to be seen between 10pm and midnight.

This is because it is during this period that substorms - the processes behind the lights - peak.

And although the cloud cover could present a spanner in the works, Scotland is still the best position in the UK to see the Northern Lights, due to its high latitude.

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