Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK

NORTHERN LIGHTS

Where to see the Northern Lights in Sweden

Ever dreamed of seeing the Northern Lights? If you're in Sweden this week, you're in luck, as there is a chance that the phenomenon will be visible in rare spots like Malmö in the far south of the country.

Published: 29 September 2016 13:20 CEST
Updated: 30 September 2016 17:12 CEST
Where to see the Northern Lights in Sweden
The Northern Lights pictured in Sweden on Wednesday night. Photo: Norrsken Sverige

Caused by solar winds clashing with the Earth’s atmosphere, a stream of the wind is currently colliding with the planet’s magnetic field, meaning Aurora Borealis visibility is likely to be high through Friday and the early hours of Saturday.

The elevated solar activity has created a small possibility of seeing the light show as far south as Malmö, and an even bigger chance of catching a glimpse around Gothenburg and south of Stockholm, provided the clouds stay away.

“We think there's a 35-40 percent chance that the Northern Lights can be seen from somewhere around the latitude of Malmö in the next four days,” Calle Bergstrand, one of the people behind the blog Northern Lights Sweden (Norrsken Sverige), told The Local on Thursday.

Bergstrand even gave The Local some tips for how to increase the chances of seeing them. 

“Find a dark place with a clear view to the north. Look for something that is faintly glowing, a shimmering mist. Chances are that after a while it will become something that looks like a curtain of light,” he explained.
 
“The best time is between 10pm and 2am. A camera 'sees' better too, so set one up on a tripod with a slow shutter speed of up to 10-15 seconds.”
 
On Wednesday night, enthusiasts took to Instagram to share their shots of the spectacle. One lucky photographer even managed to catch a glimpse in central Stockholm outside the Fotografiska museum. 
 

Experts warned however that just because conditions suggest sightings are possible doesn’t mean they will actually happen. Above all, bad weather can spoil the party, so check local forecasts.

If you're in the country's three biggest cities this weekend it's worth keeping your eyes open just in case. Any readers lucky enough to see the Northern Lights can send pictures to [email protected].