Skip to content

Northern Lights pictured from across Norfolk

JonJoe/BBC Weather Watchers The Northern Lights pictured above Wells-next-the-SeaJonJoe/BBC Weather Watchers
BBC Weather Watcher JonJoe captured this stunning image above Wells-next-the-Sea on the north Norfolk coast

Aurora hunters were treated to a display on Monday night when the Northern Lights created a show of "magenta beams".

The Northern Lights are caused by the interaction of the solar wind - a stream of charged particles escaping the Sun - and our planet's magnetic field and atmosphere.

The conditions aligned for photographers to capture the aurora - one of nature's greatest spectacles - from Norfolk.

Dan Holley Northern Lights from Long StrattonDan Holley
Weather forecaster Dan Holley pictured the aurora display across Long Stratton

Weather forecaster Dan Holley used a long exposure on his camera to photograph the lights as seen from Long Stratton, on the A140 south of Norwich.

"A lot of the green colours lower down were washed out by fairly substantial light pollution/haze, but some occasional magenta beams appeared," he posted on X (formerly Twitter).

He added that the lights were "not very visible to the naked eye" from his location.

Mr Holley told the BBC the display over the UK in March was "much stronger and visible by eye - but never as bright as they appear in photographs".

However, he said Monday's aurora was still very welcome.

"We missed a fairly big event last week due to cloud and rain over the region, so it was nice to have an opportunity last night with clear sky for a time," he said.

"Most of the time this far south you'll need to use a camera with long exposure to bring out the colours, and ideally get away from light pollution - which is why a lot of the photos come from north Norfolk."

BBC Weather Watcher JonJoe was one of those who was able to make the most of his north Norfolk location at Wells-next-the-Sea to capture an impressive display.

Green and purple lights met each other to light up the sky, with Jon Joe saying he had "waited a long time to see the aurora - it didn't disappoint".

Zacspeed/BBC Weather Watchers Northern Lights from near NorwichZacspeed/BBC Weather Watchers
BBC Weather Watcher Zacspeed captured this image near Norwich of the lights dancing across the sky

Similarly, BBC Weather Watcher Zacspeed echoed JonJoe's remarks about the show not disappointing.

He went to seek the lights with his camera at a location near Norwich after receiving an alert.

presentational grey line

Follow East of England news on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a story? Email [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 0800 169 1830