Last updated: 10 October 2026, 11:50pm BST
- The Met Office says aurora sightings are possible across northern Scotland between 10 and 13 October where skies are clear.
- Its current forecast does not extend likely naked-eye sightings to Brighton or Sussex.
- Brighton should have clearer skies overnight, but southern latitude and light pollution remain major obstacles.
- There are no UK weather warnings in force for Sunday 11 October at the time of checking.
“Northern lights” has appeared among active UK Google searches this evening, but Brighton and Sussex residents should keep expectations modest.
The Met Office space-weather forecast, issued on Saturday 10 October, says two glancing coronal mass ejections and a coronal-hole high-speed stream may enhance the auroral oval from 10 to 13 October. Its stated sighting area is northern Scotland and similar geomagnetic latitudes where skies are clear.
Could Brighton see the Northern Lights tonight?
On the evidence available at 11.50pm, a visible display over Brighton is unlikely. The Met Office expects mostly quiet to unsettled geomagnetic conditions, with a chance of a minor G1 storm and only a slight chance of a moderate G2 storm during the period.
Brighton’s ordinary weather is not the biggest problem tonight. The local Met Office forecast expects largely clear skies towards dawn, light winds and a minimum near 6C. The greater barriers are latitude and urban light pollution.
Strong aurora has reached Sussex before. The Royal Astronomical Society documented a display above Lewes in October 2024. That historical example shows it is possible, not that tonight’s forecast supports the same outcome.
What sky-watchers should do
- Check the latest Met Office space-weather page before travelling.
- If activity strengthens unexpectedly, choose a safe, dark location with a clear view north.
- Allow your eyes time to adapt and use a phone camera’s night mode; cameras can record colour too faint for the eye.
- Do not stop on unlit roads, cliffs or private land for a speculative sighting.
Because the current forecast favours Scotland, driving out of Brighton solely for the aurora would be difficult to justify tonight.
Brighton Locals’ view
Search interest can move faster than the science. The responsible answer is not “look up now” but “check the latitude-specific forecast”. Clear skies in Sussex are useful only if geomagnetic activity becomes much stronger than currently expected.
What happens next
Forecast timing is uncertain because the effect depends on the arrival and strength of solar material. The Met Office expects a daily chance of enhanced activity through 13 October, so a later update could change the picture.
Bottom line
Brighton may have a clear sky, but tonight’s official aurora forecast points to northern Scotland. Enjoy the stars, but do not expect a Sussex light show unless the space-weather readings strengthen.
Featured image: an archive aurora display photographed in southern England in May 2024. Miltof, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons. It does not show tonight’s sky or Brighton.
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