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Magnetic · Storms

Magnetic storms in Pays de la Loire

Magnetic storms in Pays de la Loire, France. Current Kp index, 3-day storm forecast, list of cities and geomagnetic activity.

Cities in region3/3

2.7QUIET
Geomagnetic conditions over Pays de la Loire right now
Quiet

An aurora visible over Pays de la Loire requires Kp ≥ 7 — current activity is below that level.

Numbers for Pays de la Loire

Cities
3
Population
638 K
Time zone
UTC+2
Latitude category
Mid-latitudes
Northernmost city
Le Mans
48.0° N
Southernmost city
Nantes
47.2° N
Geomagnetic latitude
49.5° → 49.9°
average 49.6°
Nearest observatory
Lviv
1799 km from centre

Aurora forecast over Pays de la Loire

Current Kp
2.7
Minimum Kp for aurora
7
for latitude 49.6° (mean)
Right now
— no
Best season: September – March

Cities of Pays de la Loire — sensitivity table

Minimum Kp shown for a realistic chance of seeing an aurora. The lower the number, the more noticeable storms are in the city.

CityPopulationGeomagnetic latitudeKp thresholdSensitivity
Nantes325,07049.5°7Mid-latitudes
Angers168,27949.5°7Mid-latitudes
Le Mans144,51549.9°7Mid-latitudes

FAQ about magnetic storms in Pays de la Loire

Are auroras visible in Pays de la Loire?+

Rarely. The geomagnetic latitude of Pays de la Loire (≈ 49.6°) is not high enough for regular auroras. They are possible only during strong storms Kp ≥ 7 (G3–G4), a few times a year.

How do magnetic storms affect residents of Pays de la Loire?+

At Kp ≥ 5 weather-sensitive people may experience blood pressure swings, headaches, sleep disturbances. Effects are moderate due to low geomagnetic latitude. However, strong G3+ storms can cause noticeable discomfort even here.

What Kp is needed to see an aurora in Pays de la Loire?+

By our estimate — Kp ≥ 7 (based on the regional mean of 49.6° geomagnetic latitude). The threshold is lower in the north of the region and higher in the south. For a specific city, open its page and check the «Aurora visibility threshold» section.

Where is the best place to watch auroras in Pays de la Loire?+

Best conditions are at the northernmost city in our database (Le Mans, 48.0° N). The further north, the higher the geomagnetic latitude and the more frequent the auroras. Also important: clear sky, no city light pollution, and observation around local midnight.

What is the nearest magnetic observatory?+

The nearest observatory is Lviv, at 1799 km from the centre of Pays de la Loire. It belongs to the INTERMAGNET network and records the geomagnetic field in real time.

About magnetic storms: Pays de la Loire

Magnetic storms in Pays de la Loire (France) today: planetary Kp = 2.7 (quiet). The database holds 3 cities in the region with live geomagnetic data and forecasts.

Pick a city from the list to see detailed information: local time, geomagnetic latitude, distance to the nearest magnetic observatory, 3-day Kp chart with forecast and aurora visibility chance. All cities in Pays de la Loire use the same planetary Kp, but the local impact is computed individually per coordinates.

How a magnetic storm may manifest in Pays de la Loire: at Kp ≥ 5, weather-sensitive people can have headaches, blood-pressure swings, sleep disruption. At Kp ≥ 7, GPS navigation and shortwave radio may glitch. At Kp ≥ 8 — power-grid issues. Data from NOAA SWPC, updated every 10 minutes.

Inside Pays de la Loire, geomagnetic latitude varies from 49.5° to 49.9°, with a mean of 49.6°. The northernmost city, Le Mans, gets aurora visibility opportunities first when Kp climbs; the 0.4° south-to-north spread is enough to put neighbouring cities into very different storm-response groups.

The nearest magnetic observatory tracking conditions over Pays de la Loire is Lviv. Combined with the planetary Kp index from NOAA SWPC, this station gives the closest reference point for how the local magnetic field behaves during storms in this part of France.

Magnetic storms in Pays de la Loire · Magnetic Storms