Aurora Forecast Tonight in Edmonton
Aurora season in Edmonton runs from September to April.
Tonight's Forecast
High
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How we calculate the aurora score
HighWe combine geomagnetic activity (Kp), aurora oval probability (OVATION), cloud cover, darkness and moonlight, weighted for Edmonton (region: high_latitude).
With current Kp 5.0 (location needs ≥ 3) and 2% cloud cover, there is a good chance of visible aurora at Edmonton tonight.
Score 0–19. Conditions strongly limit aurora visibility.
Score 20–44. A faint aurora is possible only under perfect conditions.
Score 45–64. Aurora may be visible to alert observers in dark, clear skies.
Score 65–84. A good chance of a visible aurora display.
Score 85–100. Excellent odds — plan to be outside tonight.
Good chance tonight. Aurora should be visible wherever the sky is clear and properly dark.
Aurora visibility in Edmonton is high tonight. There is a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights if the sky stays clear.
With current Kp 5.0 (location needs ≥ 3) and 2% cloud cover, there is a good chance of visible aurora at Edmonton tonight.
Max Kp
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Max Kp
Strong for this locationKp is comfortably above the local threshold.
5.0
Strong for this location
Cloud Cover
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Cloud Cover
Clear skiesUp to 25% cloud — excellent visibility.
0%
Clear skies
Moon
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Moon
Bright moonOver 75% illuminated — only strong displays will be visible.
77%
Bright moon
OVATION
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OVATION
LowLess than 5% probability — aurora unlikely to reach this location.
2%
Low
Best Viewing Window
10:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Best balance of darkness, geomagnetic activity and local sky conditions.
Direction to Look
Overhead or north
This is a high-latitude location, so aurora may appear overhead or toward the northern sky.
Recommendation
Find a dark location with a clear view to the north and avoid bright city lights for the best chance.
Hour-by-hour visibility
Estimated aurora visibility score for each hour of tonight at Edmonton.
70
10:00 PM
70/10010:00 PM: 70/100 — high
Max Kp
4.7
Cloud Cover
1%
Moon
77%
OVATION
2%
69
11:00 PM
69/10011:00 PM: 69/100 — high
Max Kp
4.3
Cloud Cover
0%
Moon
77%
OVATION
2%
12:00 AM
69/10012:00 AM: 69/100 — high
Max Kp
4.3
Cloud Cover
0%
Moon
77%
OVATION
2%
1:00 AM
69/1001:00 AM: 69/100 — high
Max Kp
4.3
Cloud Cover
0%
Moon
77%
OVATION
2%
Best viewing window: 10:00 PM – 12:00 AM. Peak around 10:00 PM with a visibility score of 70/100.
Why this forecast?
There is a high chance of visible aurora tonight because the main viewing conditions are favorable.
Score breakdown
How tonight's aurora score for Edmonton breaks down into activity and visibility components.
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Geomagnetic activity
30 / 30Geomagnetic activity (Kp 5.0) contribution to the score.
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Aurora oval probability
4 / 30OVATION aurora oval probability (2%) contribution.
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Cloud cover
20 / 20Cloud cover (2%) contribution — clear skies score full points.
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Darkness
15 / 15Sky darkness contribution — astronomical darkness scores full points.
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Moonlight
1 / 5Moon illumination (77%) contribution — new moon scores full points.
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Aurora zone
+5 ptsLatitude/zone bonus for Edmonton.
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Geomagnetic activity (Kp index)
Strong for this locationKp measures how disturbed Earth's magnetic field is on a 0–9 scale. Higher Kp pushes the aurora oval toward the equator. Edmonton needs Kp ≥ 3.
Kp is below the minimum needed at this latitude.
Kp is close to the minimum needed — a faint aurora may appear low on the horizon.
Kp meets the threshold for visible aurora here.
Kp is comfortably above the local threshold.
Storm-level Kp ≥ 5 — aurora can be seen far south of its usual zone.
Strong for this location
Expected Kp 5.0 is comfortably above the 3 Edmonton usually needs, so the oval should reach well past this latitude if the sky cooperates.
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Cloud cover
Clear skiesAverage cloud cover during the best viewing window. Clear skies are essential — even thin overcast hides the aurora.
Up to 25% cloud — excellent visibility.
25–50% cloud — aurora may peek through gaps.
50–85% cloud — most of the sky is blocked.
Over 85% cloud — aurora effectively hidden.
Clear skies
Skies are mostly clear, which is favorable for seeing the aurora.
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Sky darkness
Astronomical darknessAurora is faint and needs a dark sky. Astronomical darkness (sun more than 18° below horizon) is ideal.
Sun stays above 6° below horizon all night — no aurora-friendly darkness.
Sun 6–12° below horizon — too bright for faint aurora.
Sun 12–18° below horizon — sky is dark but not fully astronomical.
Sun more than 18° below the horizon — fully dark sky.
Astronomical darkness
The sky reaches full astronomical darkness tonight — the sun more than 18° below the horizon, dark enough for even a faint aurora.
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Moon illumination
Bright moonA bright moon washes out faint aurora colours. New moon is ideal; full moon hides everything but the strongest displays.
Less than 25% illuminated — minimal interference.
25–75% illuminated — faint aurora may be washed out.
Over 75% illuminated — only strong displays will be visible.
Bright moon
Moon is 77% illuminated — expect washed-out faint aurora.
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Aurora oval probability (OVATION)
LowNOAA's OVATION model estimates the chance of aurora visible overhead within a 250 km radius of you.
Less than 5% probability — aurora unlikely to reach this location.
5–20% probability — aurora possible.
20–40% probability — aurora likely if skies are clear.
Over 40% probability — aurora very likely overhead.
Low
The aurora oval probability is low for this location tonight.
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Aurora zone
Good zoneHow favourable Edmonton's latitude is for aurora viewing in general — independent of tonight's conditions.
Lower latitude — aurora is rare and requires a major storm.
Mid-latitude — aurora visible only during moderate-to-strong storms.
High-latitude region — aurora is visible on most active nights.
Directly under the auroral oval — aurora is a regular occurrence.
Good zone
Edmonton is in a good aurora region, where aurora is possible during moderate geomagnetic activity.
3-Day Aurora Forecast for Edmonton
Tonight
High
10:00 PM–12:00 AM
Tomorrow night
Moderate
10:00 PM–12:00 AM
In 2 nights
Low
3:00 AM–5:00 AM
Aurora Forecast AI Tracker
Get aurora alerts for Edmonton
Save Edmonton in Aurora Forecast AI Tracker to follow the local Northern Lights forecast, hourly aurora visibility and best viewing window. Get notified when Kp activity, darkness and cloud cover create better chances to see the aurora.
- Smart aurora alerts
- Best viewing window
- Hourly forecast
- Saved locations
Best Months to See the Northern Lights in Edmonton
The aurora season in Edmonton usually runs from September to April.
Hours of darkness in Edmonton
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11.7 | 10.2 | 8.2 | 5.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.0 | 7.2 | 9.5 | 11.3 | 12.2 |
No astronomical darkness: 14 May – 30 July
Other aurora viewing spots near Edmonton
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see the Northern Lights in Edmonton tonight?
Some nights. At 60.2° geomagnetic latitude Edmonton sits outside the quiet oval, so it takes moderate activity — Kp 3 and above — to bring the ring within reach. Cloud and darkness decide the rest.
What Kp index is needed to see the Northern Lights in Edmonton?
Kp 3. The oval widens about 2° toward the equator with each step up the scale, and Edmonton is roughly 6° outside its quiet edge — which is why a single extra point changes what you see here.
What are the best months to see the Northern Lights in Edmonton?
September to April, with January, February, October, November 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 Edmonton?
Edmonton is large enough that its own sky-glow is the main obstacle, so plan on leaving it. Head out away from the lit side until the glow is behind you, and find an open view toward the north — a lake shore, a ridge, anywhere the horizon is not built up. Let your eyes adjust for 20–30 minutes once you are there, and keep the phone screen off.