Why can we see the Northern Lights in the UK tonight?

People across the UK were treated to a stunning display on Thursday nights by the Northern Lights.

The lights, or aurora borealis, were clearly visibile across large parts of the country with the night sky filled with a green and pink hue.

However, while parts of Scotland and the north often get to glimpse the aurora, it is rare that it is so clear across England.

READ MORE: Stunning pictures as Northern Lights spotted across Greater Manchester

So why can we see the Northern Lights in England and across the UK so clearly tonight?

Aurora displays occur when charged particles collide with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere around the magnetic poles. As they collide, light is emitted at various wavelengths, creating colourful displays in the sky.

They are most commonly seen over high polar latitudes but can often spread south to be visible over parts of the UK, are chiefly influenced by geomagnetic storms which originate from activity on the sun.

A Met Office spokesman said there had been “more space weather events in recent months”, including the Northern Lights, because the sun was nearing the peak of its solar cycle.

The sun works on a cycle of around 11 years called the solar cycle – with peak sunspot activity on the surface of the sun referred to as solar maximum.

Sunspots give the potential for Earth-directed releases of large bursts of energy, called coronal mass ejections (CME), which can lead to aurora visibility.

Thursday's stunning display was due to a severe solar storm sparked by an intense flare.

Earlier on Thursday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the USA issued an update warning of a severe geomagnetic storm due to a CME.

They said: "The geomagnetic storm continues as G4 (Severe) levels were reached a second time due to continuing CME passage. Storm conditions are anticipated to occur overnight as CME progression continues. Variations due to CME passage will result in periods of weakening and escalation in geomagnetic storm levels. Continue to monitor our webpage for the latest information and updates."

Met Office spokesperson Stephen Dixon said there was a chance of some visible auroras across parts of the UK on Thursday night and into the early hours of Friday. He added that there was still 'some uncertainty' as to when exactly the auroras would be visible.

He said: “When it does reach Earth, there are likely aurora sightings in Scotland and Northern Ireland, with a chance of some sightings in the north of England and slightly further south.

“Even in the Midlands too, if you’ve got a camera with particularly long exposure that can highlight some of the auroras that are happening overhead. The further north you are, the more likely you are to get good visibility.”

He added: "We’re near the peak of that solar cycle so there have been more space weather events in recent months. International prediction centres, including the Met Office Space Weather Operations Centre, are expecting solar maximum to be later this year or early next year.”