Alberta: Northern Lights Tonight, City by City
Aurora season in Alberta runs from September to April.
Alberta tonight
High
Best aurora chance tonight, Alberta: High. Best place: Fort McMurray, 10:00 PM–2:00 AM.
| Place | Aurora Score | Best viewing window | Cloud cover | Min Kp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort McMurray | 71High | 10:00 PM–2:00 AM | 0% | 2 |
| Grande Prairie | 71High | 10:00 PM–12:00 AM | 0% | 3 |
| Edmonton | 70High | 10:00 PM–12:00 AM | 2% | 3 |
| Red Deer | 54Moderate | 1:00 AM–3:00 AM | 59% | 4 |
| Medicine Hat | 53Moderate | 3:00 AM–5:00 AM | 83% | 4 |
| Calgary | 52Moderate | 10:00 PM–12:00 AM | 100% | 4 |
| Lethbridge | 49Moderate | 10:00 PM–12:00 AM | 100% | 4 |
Alberta: the next nights
Aurora Forecast AI Tracker
Get aurora alerts for Alberta
Track the aurora forecast for Alberta with hourly visibility, cloud cover and geomagnetic activity. Save nearby viewing spots, check the best time to look for the Northern Lights, and receive alerts when local conditions improve.
- Smart aurora alerts
- Best viewing window
- Hourly forecast
- Saved locations
Alberta in numbers
- Cities on this site
- 7
- Latitude
- 49.2°–56.7°
- Geomagnetic latitude
- 56.1°–63.5°
- Min Kp
- 2–4
- Aurora zone
- High latitude – Mid-latitude
Best Months to See the Northern Lights in Alberta
The aurora season in Alberta usually runs from September to April.
Alberta: nights through the year
Where the odds are best in Alberta
| Place | Aurora zone | Min Kp | Geomagnetic latitude | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇦Fort McMurrayAlberta | High latitude | 2 | 63.5° | September to April |
| 🇨🇦Grande PrairieAlberta | High latitude | 3 | 62.2° | September to April |
| 🇨🇦EdmontonAlberta | High latitude | 3 | 60.2° | September to April |
| 🇨🇦Red DeerAlberta | High latitude | 4 | 58.9° | September to April |
| 🇨🇦CalgaryAlberta | Mid-latitude | 4 | 57.7° | September to April |
| 🇨🇦Medicine HatAlberta | Mid-latitude | 4 | 57.3° | September to April |
| 🇨🇦LethbridgeAlberta | Mid-latitude | 4 | 56.1° | September to April |
Other regions in Canada
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see the Northern Lights in Alberta tonight?
Alberta: it depends on where you are and on tonight's sky. Fort McMurray needs about Kp 2; Lethbridge needs about Kp 4. On top of that it takes a clear, dark sky — cloud blocks aurora at any Kp. The table at the top of this page has tonight's forecast city by city.
What Kp index is needed to see the Northern Lights in Alberta?
Alberta has no single number. The higher the Kp, the further from the pole the auroral oval reaches, so the threshold rises with distance from the pole: Fort McMurray needs about Kp 2, Lethbridge about Kp 4. Each city's page gives its own threshold.
What are the best months to see the Northern Lights in Alberta?
September to April, with November to February giving the most hours of real darkness. The March and September equinoxes carry a statistical tilt toward higher activity — a shift in the odds, not a promise for any one night.
Where is the best place to see the Northern Lights in Alberta?
Alberta: of the places in this list, Fort McMurray needs the least — about Kp 2 — while Lethbridge needs about Kp 4. Wherever you are, a dark sky away from city lights matters more than the exact spot.