What is a ‘cannibal storm’? Experts say it’s biggest to hit Britain in two decades
A solar phenomenon called Cannibal Storm could cause the Northern Lights to be seen in the UK and pose a risk to GPS, communications networks and power grids.
The British Geological Survey (BGS) has already raised its forecast to maximum and said the storm could feed another storm, hence its name, creating one of the biggest “cannibal storms” in 20 years.
After reaching the UK this afternoon, BGS said the incident had already affected its satellite systems.
A solar storm is caused by an explosion of energy, particles, energy, magnetic fields and materials thrown into space by the sun. They are listed as a primary hazard on the UK National Risk Register as they can seriously impact navigation and energy infrastructure.
As a result of the storm, some lucky stargazers had the chance to see the Northern Lights on Wednesday night, following sightings in the north-east of the country on Tuesday.
The Met Office has issued a space weather warning for the natural phenomenon, also known as the aurora borealis, and predicted it could be visible in parts of the UK on Wednesday night and into Thursday morning.
Although cloud cover may affect visibility, it is believed sightings will again be possible in the north of the country, with the chance of seeing the lights in the south across England and Wales.
The weather forecast shows plenty of cloud cover across the country throughout the evening, with the north of Scotland having the fewest clouds and therefore potentially the best viewing conditions.
The Met Office added that the cloud could also pass over south-east England overnight, potentially giving stargazers the opportunity to see the aurora.
Met Office space weather manager Krista Hammond said: “Several coronal mass ejections have reached Earth in recent days, with another likely to arrive later today.
“This event is likely to be of similar magnitude to the event that brought an aurora to much of England and Wales in May 2024.”
He added: “But this time the weather will hinder the viewing potential for many, with thick cloud and rain across much of the country.
“The best visibility will likely be in the north of Scotland on Wednesday night, but there is also a chance of cloud breaking at times in the South East overnight.”
The Met Office explained that the solar storm was a result of the Sun going through an active phase experiencing coronal mass ejections, which are large outbursts that send solar particles towards Earth.
As these particles interact with Earth’s atmosphere, they create a dazzling light show commonly known as the Northern Lights.
The forecaster added that activity will likely decrease by Thursday night, resulting in reduced visibility.
