Latest news with #Northern
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Northern lights may be visible in NH, Maine tonight. See map, odds, forecast
Stargazers had a chance to see a strong display of the northern lights on Sunday, but there's still a chance people could see the lights tonight, Monday June 2. Of course, that all depends on whether the skies stay clear through this evening. The National Weather Service website is calling for only partly cloudy skies tonight following a mostly sunny day, which could lead to decent conditions. Here's what to know. The Space Weather Prediction Center's website indicates that people will have a chance to see the lights tonight, though the display won't be as powerful as it was last night, Sunday, June 1. The likelihood of seeing the northern lights will be low for most of the U.S. on Monday, but northern New Hampshire and Maine are in the predicted view line. The website Aurora Reach predicts there is about a 34% chance odds that people will be able to see the northern lights at 11 p.m. tonight. They made the same prediction for Boston. There's a possibility that people will also be able to see the lights on Tuesday, June 3. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) stated that the best time to look for the northern lights is typically between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. As always, dark skies make for better stargazing. "We typically suggest getting away from cities and find a open field or hilltop to lay out under the stars and wait for the show to really peak at the late evening or early morning hours," Massachusetts Institute of Technology Technical Instructor and Observatory Manager Tim Brothers said in a past interview with Wicked Local. The auroras are a natural light display in Earth's sky that are famously best seen in high-latitude regions of the Northern and Southern hemispheres. The phenomenon is caused when electrically charged particles from space enter Earth's atmosphere and collide with molecules and gases like oxygen and nitrogen, causing the atmospheric particles to gain energy. To return to their normal state, the particles release that energy in the form of light, according to the University of Alaska at Fairbanks Geophysical Institute website, which tracks the phenomenon. If you want a chance at seeing the northern lights, here are some websites you can monitor the sun's activity: The Space Weather Prediction Center Aurora forecast page (NOAA) Aurora Reach Aurora Alerts USA Today contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Northern lights may be visible in NH, Maine tonight. See map, weather
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Double-digit rise in northerners paying inheritance tax
Northern households are increasingly being caught in the Government's inheritance tax raid, new data shows. Since 2015, there has been a 40pc surge in the number of families in the North West forced to pay death duties due to the Government's frozen thresholds. This was the biggest increase of any region in England. Properties in the north of the country are far cheaper than in the south, yet frozen thresholds coupled with house price inflation mean smaller estates are being dragged into inheritance tax. The top three postcodes which saw the sharpest rise in families paying inheritance tax between 2015 and 2022 were Wolverhampton, Bradford and Dundee, according to data from HM Revenue and Customs obtained by the law firm Irwin Mitchell in a Freedom of Information request. The number of London families dragged into the net rose by only 4pc over the same period. Each individual can leave behind up to £325,000 without paying inheritance tax, however, this tax-free allowance has been frozen since 2009 despite soaring house prices. Had the Government increased the threshold in line with inflation, it would be worth almost £520,000 today. It means families who might not consider themselves wealthy are increasing forced to pay the 40pc charge. The modest rise in Londoners paying inheritance could reflect the use of tax avoidance strategies among the wealthy elite, according to Irwin Mitchell. Despite this, the amount of tax paid by Londoners still leapt by over 40pc due to the number of high value estates in the capital. Families in inner London forked out £831m in 2015, but Irwin Mitchell predicts this will hit £1.6bn by 2026-27. Meanwhile, it expects the tax haul in Wolverhampton to soar from £8m in 2015-16 to £38m by 2026-27 – an increase of 375pc in just over a decade. England has long suffered from a North-South divide, with workers in the South East earning on average £12,800 more than in the lowest paid areas of the country such as Burnley and Huddersfield, according to research from Centre for Cities. The average property in the North West sells for about £250,000, almost half the value of a typical home in the South East. Chris Etherington, of accountants RSM, said the number of northerners paying inheritance tax will rise again because of the changes to business tax relief announced in the October Budget. As part of her maiden budget, Rachel Reeves slashed tax relief for business owners and farmers while also making pensions liable for the 40pc charge, dragging an estimated 10,000 new families into the net. Mr Etherington said: 'There are significant numbers of privately owned businesses in the North that will be impacted by the changes to inheritance tax reliefs from April 2026, and it is inevitable more estates will have a tax bill to pay as a result. 'There are thriving entrepreneurial businesses in the North, in particular in industries such as manufacturing and technology, and many business owners are still unaware of the inheritance tax implications that lie ahead.' This comes as a study by Family Business UK warns that the new inheritance tax rules for family businesses and farmers could wipe almost £15bn off the UK's economic activity. Andy Butcher, of wealth manager Raymond James, said: 'How are business owners supposed to plan for their succession when the business will now likely have to be sold on their death to cover inheritance tax? It's a short-term cash grab which will cause significant damage to the UK economy in the longer term.' Homeowners passing on their main property can claim an additional £175,000 allowance called the residence nil-rate band. Couples can share their allowances which means they can protect up to £1m from the 40pc charge. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Scarlett Moffatt shares tear-jerking message as she proudly lives her dream
Gogglebox star, Scarlett Moffatt, encouraged her followers to 'do something that brings you joy - no matter what' as she realised her dream of becoming a ballroom dancer Scarlett Moffatt has shared a powerful message about body confidence as she made one of her dreams come true. The Gogglebox star, 34, who shot to fame on the Channel 4 show, critiquing telly, sitting on the sofa with her family, shared the love while twirling around in the finals of a ballroom dancing competition. Beaming with pride, sporting a striking neon green gown with a feather trim and jewel-encrusted belt, the mum-of-one told fans they should 'do something that brings them joy - no matter what'. Captioning the clip in which she grins from ear to ear, dancing with her pal from school, sporting a navy jumpsuit, she said: "I've said it once I'll say it a million times. DO NOT let your shape, size or age stop you from doing something that brings you joy. "Don't let that silly inner sabotage voice tell you ya won't be able to do it. Don't tell yourself I'll do it when I'm thinner, when I'm fitter or when a,b or c happens. Do it now!" The I'm A Me Out Of Here! star continued: "I can't tell you how much joy dancing in two finals with my childhood friend has made me this weekend. I was thinking of nothing but the sheer joy that dance brings me, I hope I can encourage one more person to do the same." Her inspiring post went down a storm with her famous friends as many replied, agreeing with Scarlett. Former Strictly star Ian Waite shared: "Love this darling", while It Takes Two host, Janette Manrara, added: "Yes yes yes!!!!" Meanwhile, actress, Emily Atack commented: "Omg obsessed xxxxxx", while Strictly professional Karen Hauer added: "Wooohooo yes babe!!" When Scarlett first joined Gogglebox, she lit up our TV screens with her bubbly persona, Northern charm and sparkling wit. However, as her fame grew after being crowned winner of I'm A Celebrity in 2016, the star struggled to cope with the spotlight, facing a battle with her mental health, which she admitted saw her call Samaritans 20 times. Overwhelmed with the pressures of skyrocketing fame, the TV personality once admitted that she "wanted to disappear" when things were at their worst, but after stumbling across Samaritans on social media when she needed them the most, Scarlett thankfully got the support she needed. Back in 2022, the star backed a government-led campaign urging people to be "kind to their mind", as The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) had found that 7 in 10 Brits experience "Sunday Scaries", a common anxiety that looms ahead of a new week due to work stresses, a lack of sleep and spiralling to-do lists. Speaking to the Mirror about her anxiety, she said: "It doesn't even matter how many years I've been doing this, I still want to perform well. So that anxiety around getting my lines right, and hoping they want to work with me again all start." The TV star, who is engaged to Scott Dobinson, with whom she shares son, Jude, two, said the biggest tip that helps her in any overwhelming moments is reaching out to friends and family for reassurance - even though she didn't used to feel that way. She said: "This has been a gradual thing, but now if I'm ever feeling that way, I reach out to a loved one. That's the opposite of what I used to do. I used to think I don't want to be a burden on anyone, or that I don't want to let anyone down."
Mint
10 hours ago
- Climate
- Mint
In Pics: Northern lights dazzle across the US sky in a mesmerising display
In Pics: Northern lights dazzle across the US sky in a mesmerising display 5 Photos . Updated: 02 Jun 2025, 11:04 AM IST Share Via A powerful geomagnetic storm is expected to illuminate the US skies from Sunday night into early Monday, giving millions a rare chance to witness the aurora borealis far beyond the Arctic Circle. 1/5The northern lights occur when coronal mass ejections, bursts of solar material, collide with Earth's magnetic field. (X) 2/5According to the NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Centre, the aurora borealis could be visible as far south as Northern California and Alabama. (X) 3/5The brightest display of the Northern lights is expected in northern states, such as Michigan and Washington. (X) 4/5Residents in the central Plains, Midwest, and even parts of the South and Mid-Atlantic might also catch a glimpse of the glow along the northern horizon. (X)
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Northern lights in the US: When and where to catch the Aurora Borealis this year
Hey there, sky gazers! If you've ever dreamed of witnessing the mesmerizing dance of the Northern Lights, you're in luck. Thanks to a powerful geomagnetic storm, the aurora borealis is lighting up the night sky across much of the United States. This rare event is offering a chance to see the lights much farther south than usual. So, grab your warmest jacket and a thermos of cocoa—here's where to catch the show. Aurora alert On June 1, 2025, a severe geomagnetic storm (level G4 out of 5) will hit Earth, triggered by a massive coronal mass ejection from the sun. This storm has disturbed Earth's magnetic field, causing the aurora to be visible much farther south than usual. NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a "severe geomagnetic storm watch," indicating a high probability of visible auroras. Where can one see the Northern lights Normally, the aurora keeps to its usual hangout spots up near the Arctic. But not this time. This storm has stretched its reach big time, and people all across the U.S. are catching rare glimpses. Here's where you've got a solid shot at seeing them: Pacific Northwest Washington, Oregon, and even Northern California are lighting up—literally. If you're near Mount Rainier or Crater Lake, don't miss it. Midwest Folks in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan have already reported seeing the sky do its neon dance. You might catch those green and purple ribbons from your own backyard! Northern California Yep, the Bay Area is glowing again! That's two years in a row now. Maybe NorCal's secretly the new aurora capital? Mid-Atlantic & Ohio Valley Even in spots like Virginia and Ohio, the skies have stayed clear enough for some lucky viewers to catch the lights. Shenandoah and Wayne National Forest are great picks if you're in that area. How to maximize your viewing experience If you're gonna go aurora-hunting, here's how to boost your chances of a killer view: Go dark and high: Find a place far from city lights—parks, nature preserves, hills—anywhere that's dark and elevated. Check the weather: No one wants to get hyped for auroras just to see clouds. Clear skies only, please. Timing matters: Your best bet is between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time. Don't show up too early or pack it in too soon. Pack snacks & be chill: Sometimes the aurora makes a grand entrance, sometimes she's fashionably late. Bring a blanket, some hot drinks, and make a night of it. Be patient: Aurora displays can be brief. Bring a blanket, some snacks, and enjoy the wait. The breathtaking view Every aurora looks a little different. The colors and shapes you'll see depend on where you are and how strong the storm is. If you're farther south, you're more likely to see red glows instead of the classic green. And the lights might move slower or be a bit dimmer—but hey, they're still magical. Oh, and here's a pro tip: even if your eyes don't catch much, your phone camera might. Set it to night mode and let it work its magic. Some people have spotted auroras in their photos when they couldn't see them in real life!
