It’s here and it’s back with a bang! Last week the Northern Lights were visible all over the UK and from several of our Arctic destinations in the Aurora Zone. We saw a huge geomagnetic storm hit the Earth in May and now another storm in mid-August, this is quite a short break within the aurora seasons and a sure sign that we’re very much in solar maximum. If there’s ever a time to book that trip to the Arctic to see the aurora, it’s now!

Aurora season typically ends in April in the Arctic Circle and starts again in mid-August, this is because up in Lapland (around 65° north), the sun doesn’t set in the summer months and they officially have no ”night” from April 10^th until around September 7^th. During this time, the sky has a constant light which makes it much harder to see the Northern Lights. They will be happening but they won’t be visible due to the levels of light this region experiences.

There is charm in the summer months in the Arctic, life returns to the landscape in the form of foliage and wildlife, temperatures rise and 24 hours of daylight give you extra energy to explore your stunning surroundings. I spent one full year in northern Norway, I experienced everything the seasons had to give, and in my opinion the winter months are the best by far! The anticipation that builds whilst you’re continuously checking every weather and aurora forecast available is addictive and when you’re rewarded with an unforgettable display of aurora, nothing beats it.

So, what do we have to look forward to?

Like I said earlier, we’re in solar maximum, this is when the Sun’s activity is at its highest and it’s releasing regular strong solar flares, more often than at solar minimum. This is why we’ve seen multiple large displays of the Northern Lights in the last 12 months, some of which have been visible as far south as Italy and the southern states in the USA. More solar flares means more chance of them hitting the Earth and more chance of seeing the Northern Lights.

There is a big difference between the aurora you see in mid-European latitudes to the aurora you see within and with The Aurora Zone. In our Arctic destinations the Northern Lights can be dancing high above your head multiple times in one week but in lower latitudes this potentially only happens once a year during solar maximum and because generally we live in areas with high light pollution, it makes it even more difficult to see. To increase your chances of seeing the aurora borealis, travelling north into the aurora zone, within Scandinavian Lapland is a must. The aurora is better in the aurora zone, full stop.

The facts are, solar maximum and the 12 or so months remaining of it will bring more large geomagnetic storms and our destinations will see more unforgettable auroras more often. Going forward a few years, these stronger storms will on average become fewer, our destinations will still see memorable displays of the Northern Lights, these continue throughout the Sun’s cycle, but to increase your chances of seeing the northern lights, the next 12 months are undoubtably the best opportunity.

Take a look at our social media pages to see what our guests have experienced in The Aurora Zone.

Marketing & Press Enquiries | tel:+01670785012 | marketing@theaurorazone.com