Images: superb northern lights seen across France

A powerful solar flare over the weekend brought spectacular images of the Northern Lights over French skies at the start of this week. 

Much of northern France – and areas as far south as the Alps – saw the sights on Monday, after the most powerful solar flare of the year so far hit Earth. 

Solar radiation storms reached the ‘G4’ or second-highest level several times in recent days, helping to propel plasma towards the earth that contributes to the lights’ appearance further south than usual.

At one brief point, the storm hit ‘S4’ intensity, not seen in a prolonged state since 2003.

Flares are relatively common but those of such a powerful intensity that the Northern Lights can be seen so far south from the arctic pole is rare. 

The last flare of this magnitude was in November 2025, leading to similar sights in France.

Rare green lights 

Skygazers noted in particular the strong green hue of the lights, an even rarer phenomenon as the lights appear more reddish in France. 

“The red colour is linked to the de-excitation of atomic oxygen after being struck at very high altitudes, between 200 and 500 km, by charged particles from the solar wind,” said forecaster at the Alpine Space Weather Operations Center Olivier Katz to Le Figaro. 

“The green colour corresponds to de-excitation at a lower altitude, around 100 km, after an encounter with more energetic particles. This is a much rarer phenomenon at our latitudes.”

“It's exceptional to see them with the naked eye like this in France.” 

Indeed, social media was awash with photos of the powerful lights following their appearance on Monday night. 

Photographers from northern France showed the lights above the Brittany and Hauts-de-France skies, with others in Burgundy showing the lights further south.

The lights also made a rare appearance in the Alps, where they appeared more reddish.