UK forecast Wales Anglesey

Northern lights Anglesey tonight

Anglesey is an island off the northwest coast of Wales at 53°N magnetic latitude. Kp 5-6 is needed for aurora to reach this latitude. The island's separation from the mainland means the western headlands at South Stack and Newborough Warren reach Bortle Class 2 - substantially darker than anything on the Welsh mainland coast at the same latitude. During significant storms, aurora appears as a green arc on the northern horizon over the Irish Sea.

Aurora visibility - Anglesey

Unlikely tonight

Kp 1 is well below the Kp 5-6 threshold needed for aurora to be visible from Anglesey.

Current Kp

1

of 9

Threshold for Anglesey: Kp 5-6 Magnetic latitude: ~53°N Updated: 21 May, 17:48 UTC
↓ Bz nT Solar wind km/s Density p/cm³
Conditions right now: Kp + Bz + solar wind + cloud + moon

7-day outlook for Anglesey

Today

21 May

Quiet

Tomorrow

22 May

Quiet

Sat

23 May

Quiet

Sun

24 May

Quiet

Mon

25 May

Quiet

Tue

26 May

Quiet

Wed

27 May

Quiet

Based on CME arrival predictions from NASA DONKI. Arrival times ±6 hours.

What Kp is needed here?

Anglesey sits at a magnetic latitude of approximately 53°N. The Kp index - a global measure of geomagnetic activity on a scale from 0 (quiet) to 9 (extreme storm), updated every 3 hours - needs to reach Kp 5-6 before the auroral oval expands far enough south to be visible from here.

At Kp 5-6, visibility is possible from Anglesey but skies need to be clear and dark. Cloud cover and light pollution remain the main obstacles even when Kp is high enough.

Best dark sky sites near Anglesey

Light pollution is the biggest obstacle after cloud cover. These sites give you the best dark northern horizon within reach.

South Stack lighthouse headland

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Bortle Class 2 - Excellent dark sky 25 km from Menai Bridge - approximately 30 minute drive

South Stack is a small island off the western tip of Holy Island, connected to the Anglesey mainland by a footbridge below the RSPB Ellin's Tower visitor centre. The clifftop above the lighthouse gives the most open western and northern horizon on Anglesey, with the Irish Sea visible in all directions above the cliffs. The access road ends at the RSPB car park, free at night; the clifftop walk to the best viewpoints takes 5 minutes on a clear path. Holyhead's port lights are visible 3 km to the north but do not dominate the western horizon. Bortle Class 2 on the clifftop. The road is tarmac throughout and the car park has toilet facilities.

Newborough Warren - Llanddwyn Island

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Bortle Class 2 - Excellent dark sky 20 km from Menai Bridge - approximately 25 minute drive

Newborough Warren is a National Nature Reserve on the southern tip of Anglesey, covering an extensive dune system and the tidal causeway to Llanddwyn Island. The beach faces southwest across Caernarfon Bay with views south toward the Llŷn Peninsula. The northern view from the dune system is open over the Warren and the Menai Strait beyond. At night the beach is completely dark; the nearest light source is Newborough village 3 km east. Bortle Class 2 from the beach. The NRW car park at Llanddwyn has timed parking barriers; arrive before dark or check the NRW website for out-of-hours access. The forest track to the beach takes 15 minutes by foot.

Mynydd Twr (Holyhead Mountain)

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Bortle Class 3 - Rural sky 27 km from Menai Bridge - approximately 30 minute drive

Mynydd Twr is the highest point on Holy Island at 220 m, immediately behind Holyhead. The summit gives 360-degree views across the Irish Sea with the Wicklow Hills of Ireland visible in clear weather 90 km to the west. The northern horizon extends over open sea toward the Isle of Man. Holyhead port lies 2 km to the northeast and produces a light dome that affects the northeastern sky; the western and northern arc toward Ireland is considerably cleaner. A car park on the mountain road below the Iron Age hillfort gives easy access; the summit is a 15-minute walk on a clear path. Bortle Class 3 overall, improving toward Class 2 on the seaward face.

Best time to see the northern lights in Anglesey

At 53°N magnetic latitude, Anglesey sits at the lower end of regular aurora territory. Only the deep mid-winter months of November through January offer nights dark enough for aurora to be visible, and only then when a significant geomagnetic storm pushes the auroral oval this far south.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Activity peaks around the September and March equinoxes, when Earth's magnetic field geometry is most favourable for coupling with the solar wind. Events during these two windows tend to produce the strongest displays of the year for observers at Anglesey's latitude.

Outside November through January, twilight is too bright for aurora viewing even during significant storms. The season is short, but the equinox months on either side of winter can extend it slightly when storm timing aligns.

Common questions

Aurora on Anglesey - South Stack, Newborough Warren, Kp threshold, and how to get there.

What Kp is needed for northern lights in Anglesey?
Anglesey sits at 53°N magnetic latitude off the northwest coast of Wales. The Kp index - a global measure of geomagnetic activity on a scale from 0 (quiet) to 9 (extreme storm), updated every 3 hours - needs to reach Kp 5-6 for aurora to be visible from the island's dark sky headlands. At Kp 5, the auroral oval extends to around 55°N magnetic latitude; from Anglesey at 53°N, a faint green arc may appear on the northern horizon under optimal dark sky conditions. Kp 6 gives a more reliable and structured display.
Why does Anglesey have better dark sky than the Welsh mainland?
Anglesey is an island separated from the North Wales coast and the Conwy and Gwynedd urban areas by the Menai Strait. The island's interior is farmland with no large town; Holyhead (population 11,000) is the only settlement with significant light pollution. The western and southern headlands at South Stack and Newborough Warren are several kilometres from any significant light source. The Irish Sea horizon to the north and west has no artificial light on it at all beyond the distant Wicklow Hills coast. Bortle Class 2 conditions are accessible that are simply not available from the mainland coast at the same latitude.
Has aurora been seen from Anglesey?
Yes. During the strong geomagnetic storms of 2024 (particularly the May 2024 G5 event, Kp 9), aurora was photographed from multiple locations across Wales including the Anglesey coast. During the October 2024 G4 storm (Kp 8), aurora was again visible from the island. At Kp 5-6, aurora at 53°N is at the threshold of detectability; cameras with high ISO sensitivity can capture a green arc that the naked eye struggles to see. The South Stack headland and Newborough Warren are the most frequently cited Anglesey positions in aurora photographs.
Can you see the northern lights from Holyhead?
From the town centre, no - port lighting and street lights suppress faint aurora. From Mynydd Twr above the town, the northern and western sky is darker, and during a significant storm (Kp 6+) aurora may be visible. South Stack, 3 km west of Holyhead past the mountain, gives considerably better conditions. For moderate storms (Kp 5-6), drive to South Stack or Newborough Warren rather than trying from the town.
How do I get to Anglesey for aurora watching?
Anglesey is connected to the Welsh mainland by the Britannia Bridge and the historic Menai Suspension Bridge, both carrying the A55 and A5 respectively. From Manchester, the drive takes around 2 hours on the A55. Holyhead has a railway station on the North Wales main line from Chester and Crewe. Hire cars are available from Bangor on the mainland, 10 minutes from the Menai bridges. The dark sky sites at South Stack and Newborough Warren are reachable within 30 minutes of either bridge. The island has several hotels and B&Bs open year-round.

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