Aurora Borealis and Light Pillars Light Up the Sky Near St. Petersburg

An anticyclone established over St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Oblast created the conditions for rare atmospheric phenomena on the night of January 29.

Thanks to the clear sky, a weak northern lights display was noticed near the city, while light pillars were observed in the north of St. Petersburg overnight and in the morning.

Around seven in the morning, a resident named Marina photographed the light pillars from the window of her home on Pridorozhnaya Alley.

Earlier, at about three in the morning, an «incredibly bright light forest» was recorded near the Mega Parnas shopping complex. Eyewitnesses reported: «The clouds were visibly descending as icy flakes all around. Literally every light source was reflected in them, everything was shining: streetlights, car headlights, signs and advertising screens.»

The aurora was captured on camera on the Road of Life at around two in the morning.

The anticyclone provided clear skies on January 29, however, the forecast indicates a light snow.

A little over a week ago, on January 19, an exceptionally strong magnetic storm occurred on Earth. It lasted about 42 hours and peaked at G4.7, causing powerful auroras. In St. Petersburg, the phenomenon was not visible then due to cloudiness.