Russia has been treated to a spectacular display of the aurora borealis (Northern Lights) sweeping unusually far south across the country, including surprising locations like Sochi (on the Black Sea coast), Kaliningrad (the western exclave), Perm (in the Urals), and even reports from Crimea and central regions.
Footage from ru2ch & https://x.com/vick55top/status/2013487672157782079 : Russia lights up as auroras sweep across the country — from Sochi to Kaliningrad and Perm The glow was triggered by a powerful top-class solar flare.
This rare event stems from a powerful geomagnetic storm triggered by recent intense solar activity. Key details:
(1) An X-class solar flare (the strongest category) erupted from the Sun on January 18, 2026, from active region 4341, producing a significant coronal mass ejection (CME).
(2) The CME impacted Earth’s magnetosphere, escalating to G4 (severe) geomagnetic storm levels starting January 19, with some reports indicating peaks approaching or reaching higher intensity.
(3) This pushed the auroral oval much farther south than usual, allowing vivid green and colorful displays visible in mid-latitudes across Russia and beyond (including parts of Europe, Ukraine, and even potential sightings farther south in the US).
Russian sources, like the Laboratory of Solar Astronomy at IKI RAS, noted the storm intensifying to G4.7, with potential for G5 if conditions held. It’s part of the ongoing solar maximum in Solar Cycle 25, which has brought heightened activity and more widespread auroras.
If you’re in Russia or nearby and have clear dark skies tonight, look north—more activity could linger!
Posted on 20thJanuary2026.
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