Rare celestial spectacle over Hungary: Northern Lights reappear as the week begins with frosty mornings – video
On Saturday evening, those lucky enough to enjoy clear skies were treated to a rare sight – the Northern Lights once again appeared over Hungary. This time, the Aurora Borealis illuminated the northern horizon not only in shades of pink but also in green, with several cameras capturing the breathtaking display, Időkép reports.
Northern Lights return to Hungary
The rare celestial phenomenon returned to Hungarian skies less than three weeks after its previous appearance. Around 9:30 PM on Saturday, charged particles from the Sun reached Earth’s atmosphere, causing a G2-class geomagnetic storm. When these particles collided with atmospheric atoms, they produced the vibrant colours of the aurora.
An infrared night camera in Nagyvisnyó, Heves County, recorded the event glowing green, and it was also beautifully visible from Prédikálószék. According to Időkép, another geomagnetic storm – this time of G1 strength – may reach Earth on Tuesday, meaning the Northern Lights could again be visible above Hungary, provided the skies remain clear.
Normally, the Aurora Borealis is only visible much farther north, in regions such as Scandinavia or Canada. However, this marks the second time that Hungarians have been able to witness this spectacular natural phenomenon along the northern horizon this year, Telex notes.
Frosty mornings and a mild week ahead
While the Northern Lights lit up the northern sky, the ground below hinted at the arrival of winter. A cold front from the north brought cooler air masses, causing temperatures to drop close to freezing in several parts of the country on Sunday morning, Időkép reports.
The cold weather has not only affected northern valleys but also larger areas and even some cities. Both Időkép and HungaroMet have warned that it’s time to bring sensitive plants indoors, as pelargoniums, oleanders, and other Mediterranean flowers cannot withstand sub-zero temperatures. However, they can safely be stored in cool, frost-free places such as basements or attics throughout winter.
Meteorologists predict that early Monday morning temperatures in eastern Hungary will range between -2 and +5 degrees Celsius, with some areas possibly seeing lows of -4 or -5. During the day, however, the strengthening southern and southeastern winds will bring a quick rise in temperature, and by Tuesday afternoon, southern and southwestern regions could see highs of 20–21 degrees.
Celestial wonders and autumn chill hand in hand
The weekend thus brought both a rare celestial spectacle and the first signs of an approaching winter. While the Northern Lights illuminated the northern sky on Saturday night, by Sunday, the chill in the air reminded everyone that autumn is slowly drawing to a close. And for those who keep an eye on the sky, Tuesday might offer another chance to witness the magical beauty of the Aurora Borealis over Hungary.
this is not a good sign. There are interstelar objects intruding our solar system and one of them is causing magnetic fields that are very strong which can be dangerous for the earth magnetic field Van Allen ring which protect us from magnetic storms.