Ireland 'unlikely' to see Northern Lights tonight due to cloudy skies ...
The Northern Lights could be seen across parts of Ireland last night as hues of green, pink and purple lit up the sky.
The sight could be viewed due to the solar geomagnetic storm.
Lucky observers could admire the aurora borealis in some parts of the country, in particular in the northwestern areas.
The natural phenomenon was noted last night in counties Sligo, Kerry, Louth, Galway, Dublin, Donegal and Cork.
The hues of green and pink were also seen in the North – particualrly in Co Fermanagh and Co Tyrone.
Observers in the UK could also spot the Northern Lights in parts of Scotland, England and Wales.
The natural light display, also known as the aurora borealis, is the result of collisions between gas particles in our atmosphere and charged particles ejected from the sun's atmosphere.
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Many social media users were sharing spectacular sightings of the aurora borealis across the country on X, formerly Twitter.
Pictures of the Northern Lights were captured in Rosses Point, Co Sligo, Knockbridge, Co Louth, Connemara, Co Galway, Ardee Bog, Co Louth, Youghal, Co Cork or Burrow Beach in Dublin.
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Although predictions suggest the lights could still be visible tonight, unfavourable weather might prevent Ireland from seeing it tonight.
Met Éireann meteorologist Liz Walsh said that Ireland probably will not be able to see the phenomenon due to cloudy skies.
“We're looking at most cloudy conditions tonight, with outbreaks of rain and drizzle, so probably unlikely that many would see any kind of aurora from that,” she told the Irish Independent.
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People in many parts of the country were able to spot the display last night due to clear skies and good weather on Thursday night.
“There were clear skies last night and it was viewable. There was a geomagnetic storm,” said Ms Walsh.
“It looks like there's probably aurora visible in northern and northwestern parts of Ireland.
"But unfortunately, it looks like it's going to be mostly cloudy tonight, so people probably wouldn't be able to see it but it is happening,” she added.
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Meanwhile, the Met Office in the UK has confirmed that two coronal mass ejections arrived on Thursday, leading to a period of geomagnetic activity.
“Residual activity is ongoing on early Friday morning, with aurora potentially visible across northern Scotland,” the MET Office said.
"Another coronal mass ejection arrival overnight Friday into Saturday brings a chance of further visible Aurora to northern areas of the UK, primarily Scotland.”
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