An unusually strong solar storm hitting Earth produced stunning displays of colours  in the skies across the northern hemisphere, early Saturday, with no immediate reports of disruptions to power and communications. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a rare, severe geomagnetic storm warning when a solar outburst reached Earth, hours sooner than anticipated. 

The effects of the northern lights, which were prominently on display in Britain, will last through the weekend and possibly even next week. Many in the UK shared pictures of the lights on social media. “There were sightings from top to tail across the country,” said Chris Snell, a meteorologist at the Met Office, Britain’s weather agency. He added that the office received information from other European locations, including Prague and Barcelona.