Aurora Forecast Tonight in Whitehorse

Aurora season in Whitehorse runs from August to April.

Tonight's Forecast

Moderate

How we calculate the aurora score

Moderate

We combine geomagnetic activity (Kp), aurora oval probability (OVATION), cloud cover, darkness and moonlight, weighted for Whitehorse (region: high_latitude).

With current Kp 4.7 (location needs ≥ 2) and 72% cloud cover, aurora may be visible at Whitehorse from a dark spot, once your eyes have adjusted.

Unlikely 0-19

Score 0–19. Conditions strongly limit aurora visibility.

Low 20-44

Score 20–44. A faint aurora is possible only under perfect conditions.

Moderate 45-64

Score 45–64. Aurora may be visible to alert observers in dark, clear skies.

High 65-84

Score 65–84. A good chance of a visible aurora display.

Very High 85-100

Score 85–100. Excellent odds — plan to be outside tonight.

Moderate chance tonight. Aurora may be visible from a dark spot if the sky stays clear.

Aurora Score 62 /100

Aurora activity may be favorable near Whitehorse, but cloud cover could make the Northern Lights difficult or impossible to see.

With current Kp 4.7 (location needs ≥ 2) and 72% cloud cover, aurora may be visible at Whitehorse from a dark spot, once your eyes have adjusted.

Max Kp

Strong for this location

Kp is comfortably above the local threshold.

4.7

Strong for this location

Cloud Cover

Partly cloudy

25–50% cloud — aurora may peek through gaps.

44%

Partly cloudy

Moon

Bright moon

Over 75% illuminated — only strong displays will be visible.

77%

Bright moon

OVATION

Moderate

5–20% probability — aurora possible.

10%

Moderate

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Best Viewing Window

1:00 AM – 3:00 AM

Best balance of darkness, geomagnetic activity and local sky conditions.

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Direction to Look

Overhead or north

Min Kp 2 Lat 60.7°

This is a high-latitude location, so aurora may appear overhead or toward the northern sky.

Recommendation

Cloud cover is the main problem tonight. Wait for breaks in the clouds before going out.

Hour-by-hour visibility

Estimated aurora visibility score for each hour of tonight at Whitehorse.

12:00 AM

67/100

12:00 AM: 67/100 — high

Max Kp

4.3

Cloud Cover

50%

Moon

77%

OVATION

10%

1:00 AM

70/100

1:00 AM: 70/100 — high

Max Kp

4.0

Cloud Cover

34%

Moon

77%

OVATION

10%

2:00 AM

68/100

2:00 AM: 68/100 — high

Max Kp

4.0

Cloud Cover

45%

Moon

77%

OVATION

10%

3:00 AM

66/100

3:00 AM: 66/100 — high

Max Kp

4.0

Cloud Cover

55%

Moon

77%

OVATION

10%

4:00 AM

59/100

4:00 AM: 59/100 — moderate

Max Kp

3.0

Cloud Cover

63%

Moon

77%

OVATION

10%

12:00 AM

1:00 AM

2:00 AM

3:00 AM

4:00 AM

Best viewing window: 1:00 AM – 3:00 AM. Peak around 1:00 AM with a visibility score of 70/100.

Why this forecast?

There is a moderate chance of visible aurora tonight. Some conditions are favorable, but clouds, moonlight or geomagnetic activity may still limit visibility.

Score breakdown

How tonight's aurora score for Whitehorse breaks down into activity and visibility components.

Geomagnetic activity

30 / 30

Geomagnetic activity (Kp 4.7) contribution to the score.

30 / 30

Aurora oval probability

10 / 30

OVATION aurora oval probability (10%) contribution.

10 / 30

Cloud cover

6 / 20

Cloud cover (72%) contribution — clear skies score full points.

6 / 20

Darkness

15 / 15

Sky darkness contribution — astronomical darkness scores full points.

15 / 15

Moonlight

1 / 5

Moon illumination (77%) contribution — new moon scores full points.

1 / 5

Aurora zone

+5 pts

Latitude/zone bonus for Whitehorse.

+5 pts

Aurora activity 73 / 100

Sky visibility 54 / 100

Final score 62 / 100

✓

Geomagnetic activity 4.7 / 2

Geomagnetic activity (Kp index)

Strong for this location

Kp measures how disturbed Earth's magnetic field is on a 0–9 scale. Higher Kp pushes the aurora oval toward the equator. Whitehorse needs Kp ≥ 2.

Below threshold

Kp is below the minimum needed at this latitude.

Near threshold

Kp is close to the minimum needed — a faint aurora may appear low on the horizon.

Enough for this location

Kp meets the threshold for visible aurora here.

Strong for this location

Kp is comfortably above the local threshold.

Geomagnetic storm

Storm-level Kp ≥ 5 — aurora can be seen far south of its usual zone.

Strong for this location

Expected Kp 4.7 is comfortably above the 2 Whitehorse usually needs, so the oval should reach well past this latitude if the sky cooperates.

•

Cloud cover 44%

Cloud cover

Partly cloudy

Average cloud cover during the best viewing window. Clear skies are essential — even thin overcast hides the aurora.

Clear skies

Up to 25% cloud — excellent visibility.

Partly cloudy

25–50% cloud — aurora may peek through gaps.

Cloudy

50–85% cloud — most of the sky is blocked.

Overcast

Over 85% cloud — aurora effectively hidden.

Partly cloudy

Some clouds are expected, but aurora may still be visible through clear gaps.

✓

Darkness astronomical

Sky darkness

Astronomical darkness

Aurora is faint and needs a dark sky. Astronomical darkness (sun more than 18° below horizon) is ideal.

No dark window

Sun stays above 6° below horizon all night — no aurora-friendly darkness.

Civil twilight

Sun 6–12° below horizon — too bright for faint aurora.

Nautical twilight

Sun 12–18° below horizon — sky is dark but not fully astronomical.

Astronomical darkness

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.

Moonlight 77%

Moon illumination

Bright moon

A bright moon washes out faint aurora colours. New moon is ideal; full moon hides everything but the strongest displays.

Dark moon

Less than 25% illuminated — minimal interference.

Moderate moonlight

25–75% illuminated — faint aurora may be washed out.

Bright moon

Over 75% illuminated — only strong displays will be visible.

Bright moon

Moon is 77% illuminated — expect washed-out faint aurora.

•

Aurora oval probability 10%

Aurora oval probability (OVATION)

Moderate

NOAA's OVATION model estimates the chance of aurora visible overhead within a 250 km radius of you.

Low

Less than 5% probability — aurora unlikely to reach this location.

Moderate

5–20% probability — aurora possible.

Elevated

20–40% probability — aurora likely if skies are clear.

High

Over 40% probability — aurora very likely overhead.

Moderate

The aurora oval probability is moderate for this location tonight, so activity may be close by if the sky is clear.

✓

Aurora zone Good zone

Aurora zone

Good zone

How favourable Whitehorse's latitude is for aurora viewing in general — independent of tonight's conditions.

Low zone

Lower latitude — aurora is rare and requires a major storm.

Fair zone

Mid-latitude — aurora visible only during moderate-to-strong storms.

Good zone

High-latitude region — aurora is visible on most active nights.

Excellent zone

Directly under the auroral oval — aurora is a regular occurrence.

Good zone

Whitehorse is in a good aurora region, where aurora is possible during moderate geomagnetic activity.

Data sources

How this forecast works

3-Day Aurora Forecast for Whitehorse

Tonight

Moderate

Max Kp4.7

Cloud Cover72%

Moon77%

1:00 AM–3:00 AM

Tomorrow night

Moderate

Max Kp4.7

Cloud Cover94%

Moon66%

10:00 PM–12:00 AM

In 2 nights

Low

Cloud Cover48%

2:00 AM–4:00 AM

Aurora Forecast AI Tracker

Get aurora alerts for Whitehorse

Save Whitehorse 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.

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Best viewing window
Hourly forecast
Saved locations

Best Months to See the Northern Lights in Whitehorse

Best: August to April Peak: January, February, March, October, November and December

August September October November December January February March April

The aurora season in Whitehorse usually runs from August to April.

Hours of darkness in Whitehorse

Dark hours per night
January	February	March	April	May	June	July	August	September	October	November	December
12.2	10.0	7.3	2.5	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	6.0	9.0	11.3	12.7

No astronomical darkness: 20 April – 23 August

Other aurora viewing spots near Whitehorse

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Yakutat

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Haines

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Pelican

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Tenakee Springs

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Angoon

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Sitka

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can you see the Northern Lights in Whitehorse tonight?

Some nights. At 63.2° geomagnetic latitude Whitehorse sits outside the quiet oval, so it takes moderate activity — Kp 2 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 Whitehorse?

Kp 2. The oval widens about 2° toward the equator with each step up the scale, and Whitehorse is roughly 3° 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 Whitehorse?

August to April, with October to March 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 Whitehorse?

The best places to see the Northern Lights in Whitehorse are dark areas away from city lights, with a clear view toward the northern horizon.