Northern Lights Forecast Tonight

See if the aurora borealis may be visible tonight in your location.

Global Aurora Activity

Active

Global Aurora Activity

Active

Geomagnetic activity is active. Aurora may be visible in northern locations when local skies are dark and clear.

Max Kp 24h 3.7 / 9

Global geomagnetic activity is active. Northern Lights may be visible in high-latitude locations if skies are dark and clear.

Current Kp

Quiet activity

Kp is below 2, which means geomagnetic activity is quiet. Aurora visibility is usually limited to high-latitude regions and depends strongly on darkness, clear skies and local conditions.

1.3

Quiet activity

Max Kp next 24h

Active conditions

Kp is between 3 and 5, which means geomagnetic conditions are active but below storm level. Aurora chances improve in northern regions, especially when skies are dark, clear and away from light pollution.

3.7

Active conditions

Storm level

No storm

No geomagnetic storm is expected based on the current Kp forecast.

None

No storm

Updated

Fresh

The latest forecast data was updated recently.

6m ago

Fresh

Source

NOAA SWPC

Global Kp Forecast

Estimated global Kp index for the next 72 hours. Taller bars mean stronger geomagnetic activity.

2.7

+1h

Low activity

+1h: Kp 2.7 — low geomagnetic activity.

Kp index

2.7

3.3

+4h

Active conditions

+4h: Kp 3.3 — active geomagnetic conditions.

Kp index

3.3

+7h

Active conditions

+7h: Kp 3.3 — active geomagnetic conditions.

Kp index

3.3

3.7

+10h

Active conditions

+10h: Kp 3.7 — active geomagnetic conditions.

Kp index

3.7

3.0

+13h

Active conditions

+13h: Kp 3.0 — active geomagnetic conditions.

Kp index

3.0

+16h

Active conditions

+16h: Kp 3.0 — active geomagnetic conditions.

Kp index

3.0

+19h

Active conditions

+19h: Kp 3.0 — active geomagnetic conditions.

Kp index

3.0

+22h

Active conditions

+22h: Kp 3.0 — active geomagnetic conditions.

Kp index

3.0

3.7

+25h

Active conditions

+25h: Kp 3.7 — active geomagnetic conditions.

Kp index

3.7

3.3

+28h

Active conditions

+28h: Kp 3.3 — active geomagnetic conditions.

Kp index

3.3

+31h

Active conditions

+31h: Kp 3.3 — active geomagnetic conditions.

Kp index

3.3

3.7

+34h

Active conditions

+34h: Kp 3.7 — active geomagnetic conditions.

Kp index

3.7

3.3

+37h

Active conditions

+37h: Kp 3.3 — active geomagnetic conditions.

Kp index

3.3

+40h

Active conditions

+40h: Kp 3.3 — active geomagnetic conditions.

Kp index

3.3

3.0

+43h

Active conditions

+43h: Kp 3.0 — active geomagnetic conditions.

Kp index

3.0

2.0

+46h

Low activity

+46h: Kp 2.0 — low geomagnetic activity.

Kp index

2.0

3.0

+49h

Active conditions

+49h: Kp 3.0 — active geomagnetic conditions.

Kp index

3.0

+52h

Active conditions

+52h: Kp 3.0 — active geomagnetic conditions.

Kp index

3.0

3.7

+55h

Active conditions

+55h: Kp 3.7 — active geomagnetic conditions.

Kp index

3.7

+1h

+4h

+7h

+10h

+13h

+16h

+19h

+22h

+25h

+28h

+31h

+34h

+37h

+40h

+43h

+46h

+49h

+52h

+55h

The highest expected Kp in the next 72 hours is 3.7.

Why this forecast?

Global aurora activity is active because the current Kp is 1.3 and the next 24h forecast reaches Kp 3.7.

•

Current Kp 1.3

Current Kp

Quiet activity

Kp is below 2, which means geomagnetic activity is quiet. Aurora visibility is usually limited to high-latitude regions and depends strongly on darkness, clear skies and local conditions.

Quiet activity

Current Kp shows the latest estimated global geomagnetic activity.

•

Max Kp next 24h 3.7

Max Kp next 24h

Active conditions

The highest expected Kp in the next 24 hours indicates whether aurora may expand beyond the polar regions.

✓

Data freshness Fresh

Fresh

The forecast is based on recently updated NOAA data.

Data sources

· NOAA SWPC Kp forecast
· NOAA SWPC observed Kp

Best Chances Tonight

Locations with the highest estimated aurora visibility tonight.

Kiruna

🇸🇪 Norrbotten County · Sweden

High

67 / 100

Max Kp tonight 3.7 Kp needed 1.8 Cloud Cover 18%

🕐 12:00 AM – 2:00 AM

Saariselkä

🇫🇮 Lapland · Finland

High

67 / 100

Max Kp tonight 3.7 Kp needed 2.0 Cloud Cover 19%

🕐 12:00 AM – 4:00 AM

Honningsvåg

🇳🇴 Finnmark · Norway

Low

42 / 100

Max Kp tonight 3.7 Kp needed 1.5 Cloud Cover 43%

🕐 10:00 PM – 12:00 AM

Harstad

🇳🇴 Troms · Norway

Low

36 / 100

Cloud cover: Cloudy

Max Kp tonight 3.7 Kp needed 2.5 Cloud Cover 76%

🕐 2:00 AM – 4:00 AM

Healy

🇺🇸 Alaska · United States

Moderate

57 / 100

Max Kp tonight 3.0 Kp needed 1.5 Cloud Cover 48%

🕐 2:00 AM – 4:00 AM

Ittoqqortoormiit

🇬🇱 Sermersooq · Greenland

Low

35 / 100

Cloud cover: Cloudy

Max Kp tonight 3.7 Kp needed 1.0 Cloud Cover 63%

🕐 10:00 PM – 12:00 AM

Popular Aurora Forecasts

Browse aurora forecasts for popular northern locations.

Aurora Forecast AI Tracker

Never miss the Northern Lights

Download Aurora Forecast AI Tracker to follow your local Northern Lights forecast in real time. Save favorite aurora locations, check the best viewing window, track hourly cloud cover and Kp activity, and receive smart aurora alerts when conditions improve.

Smart aurora alerts
Best viewing window
Hourly forecast
Saved locations

Northern Lights Forecast by Location

United States

Canada

Europe

Other

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you see the Northern Lights tonight?

It depends on your location, geomagnetic activity, cloud cover, darkness, and light pollution. Check your local aurora forecast to see if the Northern Lights may be visible tonight.

What time will the Northern Lights be visible tonight?

The best time is usually during dark night hours, often from late evening to early morning. Visibility is better when the sky is clear and you are away from city lights.

Where can you see the Northern Lights?

The Northern Lights are most often visible in high-latitude regions such as Alaska, Canada, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and northern Russia. During strong geomagnetic storms, they can sometimes be seen farther south.

Where is the best place to see the Northern Lights tonight?

The best place is usually a dark location under clear skies, away from city lights, with a good view of the northern horizon. Locations closer to the auroral oval usually have a better chance.

What are the Northern Lights?

The Northern Lights, also called the aurora borealis, are natural lights in the sky caused by charged particles from the Sun interacting with Earth's magnetic field and upper atmosphere.

What causes the Northern Lights?

Northern Lights happen when solar particles reach Earth and are guided by the magnetic field toward the polar regions. When these particles collide with gases in the atmosphere, they create glowing colors in the sky.

How can I watch or photograph the Northern Lights?

Go to a dark place with a clear northern view, let your eyes adjust, and check the forecast before you go. For photos, use night mode on a phone or a camera with a tripod and a long exposure.