Northern Lights forecasted to illuminate Finland this weekend

This weekend presents a great opportunity to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights across Finland, according to a bulletin from the Finnish Meteorological Institute. The probability of seeing the auroras is highest during the night between Saturday and Sunday, but enthusiasts are encouraged to start looking out tonight as well, says space weather forecaster Matias Takala.

The bulletin notes that the best time for aurora viewing is typically around midnight, but during the weekend, it is advisable to watch the sky as soon as it gets dark. The Northern Lights are expected to be visible throughout Finland, with a higher likelihood in Lapland, where auroras are common even during calm space weather.

To see the Northern Lights, clear skies in addition to stormy space weather are required. The forecast indicates that the clearest skies will be in the northern parts of the country on the night between Friday and Saturday, although cloud cover may be thick in some areas of Northern Lapland. In southern and central Finland, there will be some upper cloud cover that might hinder visibility.

The clearest skies are anticipated in the eastern and northern regions during the night between Saturday and Sunday, but expanding cloudiness will cover western parts of the country as the night progresses. A geomagnetic storm generated by solar activity earlier in the week could cause the Northern Lights to be seen as far south as the Mediterranean Sea.

Besides the auroras, severe space weather might disrupt some technical systems, including long-distance radio communications, satellite navigation, and occasionally, electrical grids.

If you capture images of the Northern Lights, you can send them through the link provided in the bulletin, ensuring to mention where and when the photo was taken.