Northern Lights display may be visible in Scotland tonight, forecasters say

Clear skies may offer glimpse of Aurora Borealis, say forecasters

The Northern Lights could be visible from parts of the UK tonight, potentially offering sky-gazers a spectacular display.

Forecasters say people in Scotland have the best chance of catching a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis, thanks to skies staying clear for the first half of the night, before clouding over later.

In recent days, an increase in solar winds triggered by a solar flare has created impressive displays of the Northern Lights in the northern hemisphere. Star-gazers from Canada and Alaska to Norway and Sweden have all enjoyed dazzling displays this week.

BBC Weather tweeted today: "There is a reasonable chance of catching a glimpse of the #AuroraBorealis across northern Scotland tonight.

"Skies should stay mainly clear for the first half of the night before cloud moves in from the west later on."

The light displays, usually green, happen when charged particles from storms on the sun strike atoms and molecules in the Earth’s atmosphere, causing them to emit bright, colourful lights.

In Scotland, the best places to glimpse the Aurora include the Highlands, Aberdeenshire, the Cairngorms and the Isle of Skye.

Views of the Northern Lights are often obscured by heavy clouds in the atmosphere but tonight Scotland is expected to remain clear enough to see them.