Northern Lights to be 'especially' visible in Scotland this weekend

Stargazers could catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights from Scotland this weekend, forecasters have said.

Clear skies and enhanced activity from the sun reaching earth is expected to improve the chances of seeing the display on Friday and Saturday night.

The best time to view the Northern Lights is typically just after sunset or just before sunrise.

The celestial event comes as the country is set for a warm weekend with plenty of sun and prolonged clear spells on offer.

Parts of Scotland are set to be hotter than Spain with highs of 24C in some areas.

Insight Philip Petrie STV weather presenter

Overnight Friday and into Saturday we hold onto clear skies, with low cloud only affecting western coastal parts and Shetland.

Over the past 24-36 hours there have been high levels of solar activity with several coronal mass ejections hitting earth tonight – that means we have a good chance of catching sight of the Northern Lights – and given the fact we have clear skies tonight, it’s perfect timing and a good sign that more people have a higher chance of seeing them.

The best locations for spotting the aurora are always further north, and on higher ground away from any light pollution.