Photos: Northern Lights visible in many parts of France
Chances of seeing the aurora borealis tonight (November 12-13) are elevated. The Northern Lights appeared across many regions of France during the night of November 11-12, with witnesses sharing photos and videos of the colorful skies on social media.
A surge of solar flares caused pink and purple hues to light up several northern areas, especially Normandy and Brittany, as well as further east in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. The activity peaked between 03:00 and 05:00 this morning.
These lights are usually easier to spot in places with low light pollution, though some observers reported sightings in major cities such as Paris and even as far south as Nice. The colors in France tend to be warmer due to the country's lower altitude, differing from the green and blue shades typical near the Arctic Circle.
“This might be the strongest geomagnetic storm in over a year… It comes from a powerful solar flare that occurred this Tuesday morning,”
This post from Météo Basse-Normandie also notes the possibility of another increased chance of viewing tonight’s auroras, with the peak expected to begin as early as 16:00 and continue until 02:00.
Last night’s display captivated many across France, echoing a similar event in April when the aurora also lit up the skies over Normandy and Brittany.
Author’s summary: The Northern Lights dazzled viewers in multiple French regions, fueled by a strong solar flare, with a second chance for sightings tonight as geomagnetic activity remains high.