Magnetic storms in Northern Ireland
Magnetic storms in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. Current Kp index, 3-day storm forecast, list of cities and geomagnetic activity.
Cities in region1/1
An aurora visible over Northern Ireland requires Kp ≥ 5 — current activity is below that level.
Numbers for Northern Ireland
Aurora forecast over Northern Ireland
Cities of Northern Ireland — 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.
| City | Population | Geomagnetic latitude | Kp threshold | Sensitivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast | 348,005 | 57.3° | ≥ 5 | Sub-auroral |
FAQ about magnetic storms in Northern Ireland
Are auroras visible in Northern Ireland?+
Sometimes. Northern Ireland sits in the sub-auroral zone (mean geomagnetic latitude 57.3°). Noticeable auroras start at Kp ≥ 5, which corresponds to G2–G3 on the NOAA scale.
How do magnetic storms affect residents of Northern Ireland?+
At Kp ≥ 5 weather-sensitive people may experience blood pressure swings, headaches, sleep disturbances. Since Northern Ireland is at high geomagnetic latitudes, effects are stronger than the country average — pensioners and people with hypertension should follow the forecast closely.
What Kp is needed to see an aurora in Northern Ireland?+
By our estimate — Kp ≥ 5 (based on the regional mean of 57.3° 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 Northern Ireland?+
Best conditions are at the northernmost city in our database (Belfast, 54.6° 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 2070 km from the centre of Northern Ireland. It belongs to the INTERMAGNET network and records the geomagnetic field in real time.
About magnetic storms: Northern Ireland
Magnetic storms in Northern Ireland (United Kingdom) today: planetary Kp = 3.7 (quiet). The database holds 1 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 Northern Ireland use the same planetary Kp, but the local impact is computed individually per coordinates.
How a magnetic storm may manifest in Northern Ireland: 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 Northern Ireland, geomagnetic latitude varies from 57.3° to 57.3°, with a mean of 57.3°. The northernmost city, Belfast, gets aurora visibility opportunities first when Kp climbs; the 0.0° south-to-north spread is enough to put neighbouring cities into very different storm-response groups.
The nearest magnetic observatory tracking conditions over Northern Ireland 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 United Kingdom.