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?
Solar Cycle 25 has been the most active solar period since 2003, and it reached its peak in 2024. High sunspot numbers meant more X-class flares and CMEs aimed at Earth, which is what produced the extraordinary run of UK-visible aurora from 2023 onwards. We are past that peak now, though the descending years still produce big storms, so the run is not over.
G1, Minor
G2, Moderate
G3, Strong
G4, Severe
G5, Extreme
G5 · Kp 910 May 2024 to 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 to 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. 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 to 12 May, extending the display over two nights.
G4 · Kp 810 October 2024 to 11 October 2024
October 2024, G4 Severe Storm
A second major storm in 2024 brought aurora back to England and Wales.
UK visibility:Across the UK. Strongest in Scotland and the north, photographed from back gardens in the Midlands and the south.
October 2024 brought a second exceptional display, with Kp reaching 8+ during a G4 Severe geomagnetic storm. The storm was triggered by an X1.8 flare and associated CME from active region AR3848 on 9 October. Aurora was seen across the UK, including the Midlands and southern England, where most people saw it best on a phone 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 824 March 2024 to 25 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+ on the afternoon of 24 March, and the display followed that evening. 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.
See Hp30 history
Browse the daily Hp30 chart and storm event table for all recorded activity since Auroracast launched.
AuroracastUK