Why are we seeing more northern lights this year?

[Admin]

In 2022, we have seen spectacular polar lights displays in the sky above the U.K., visible form many more places than is usual.

Why are we seeing more northern lights this year? : Read more

 

[Helio]

I'm curious about this statement in the article...

"This magnetic barrier is weakest at the poles of the "bar magnet" so that we tend to see auroral displays at high latitudes. The bigger the space weather storm, the deeper charged particles can penetrate the magnetic field of Earth, so that during intense events, the northern lights are seen at lower latitudes."

Aren't the magnetic strengths for a bar magnet strongest (not weakest) at the poles? So is this different, somehow, for a "barrier" effect, or what?