Residents in Portsmouth, Hampshire, are on alert for a rare glimpse of the Northern Lights over the weekend of February 14–15, 2026. While some local skywatchers monitored the horizon during the early hours of February 14, experts suggest the most significant opportunity for sightings will occur as a solar storm reaches its peak on Sunday.
The potential display is being driven by a burst of solar energy from an M1.0-class solar flare that erupted on February 13. According to the Space Weather Prediction Center, this activity is part of the “double peak” of Solar Cycle 25, a high point in the sun’s natural 11-year cycle that makes aurora sightings more frequent across the UK.
While conditions in Southern England remained largely quiet during the early hours of Saturday, local photographers are preparing to head to darker vantage points like Portsdown Hill and Eastney beach for the arrival of a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME). Data from the British Geological Survey and NOAA indicates that a geomagnetic storm reaching G1 (Minor) to G2 (Moderate) levels is expected to interact with Earth’s atmosphere late on February 14 and through February 15.
The best chance for sightings in Portsmouth will require clear skies and the use of long-exposure photography, as the aurora at this latitude often appears as a faint glow to the naked eye. Residents are encouraged to keep looking at the northern horizon throughout the rest of the weekend for any colourful displays.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
