Aurora Forecast Tonight in Qaanaaq
Aurora season in Qaanaaq runs from September to April.
Tonight's Forecast
Moderate
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How we calculate the aurora score
ModerateWe combine geomagnetic activity (Kp), aurora oval probability (OVATION), cloud cover, darkness and moonlight, weighted for Qaanaaq (region: auroral_oval).
With current Kp 5.0 (location needs ≥ 1) and 53% cloud cover, aurora may be visible at Qaanaaq from a dark spot, once your eyes have adjusted.
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.
Moderate chance tonight. Aurora may be visible from a dark spot if the sky stays clear.
Aurora visibility in Qaanaaq is moderate tonight. Northern Lights may be visible if geomagnetic activity holds and local skies remain clear.
With current Kp 5.0 (location needs ≥ 1) and 53% cloud cover, aurora may be visible at Qaanaaq from a dark spot, once your eyes have adjusted.
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
Partly cloudy25–50% cloud — aurora may peek through gaps.
35%
Partly cloudy
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.
0%
Low
Best Viewing Window
1:00 AM – 3:00 AM
Best balance of darkness, geomagnetic activity and local sky conditions.
Direction to Look
Overhead or north
This location is close to the auroral oval, so aurora may appear overhead during stronger activity.
Recommendation
Watch the forecast and be ready to go outside if Kp rises or cloud cover improves.
Hour-by-hour visibility
Estimated aurora visibility score for each hour of tonight at Qaanaaq.
12:00 AM
59/10012:00 AM: 59/100 — moderate
Max Kp
4.7
Cloud Cover
34%
Moon
77%
OVATION
0%
60
1:00 AM
60/1001:00 AM: 60/100 — moderate
Max Kp
4.7
Cloud Cover
32%
Moon
77%
OVATION
0%
60
2:00 AM
60/1002:00 AM: 60/100 — moderate
Max Kp
4.3
Cloud Cover
32%
Moon
77%
OVATION
0%
3:00 AM
58/1003:00 AM: 58/100 — moderate
Max Kp
4.3
Cloud Cover
42%
Moon
77%
OVATION
0%
4:00 AM
57/1004:00 AM: 57/100 — moderate
Max Kp
4.3
Cloud Cover
46%
Moon
77%
OVATION
0%
Best viewing window: 1:00 AM – 3:00 AM. Peak around 1:00 AM with a visibility score of 60/100.
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 Qaanaaq 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
0 / 30OVATION aurora oval probability (0%) contribution.
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Cloud cover
9 / 20Cloud cover (53%) 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
+10 ptsLatitude/zone bonus for Qaanaaq.
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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. Qaanaaq needs Kp ≥ 1.
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 1 Qaanaaq usually needs, so the oval should reach well past this latitude if the sky cooperates.
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Cloud cover
Partly cloudyAverage 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.
Partly cloudy
Some clouds are expected, but aurora may still be visible through clear gaps.
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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
Excellent zoneHow favourable Qaanaaq'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.
Excellent zone
Qaanaaq is in a prime aurora zone, so aurora can be visible during regular activity when skies are dark and clear.
3-Day Aurora Forecast for Qaanaaq
Tonight
Moderate
1:00 AM–3:00 AM
Tomorrow night
Moderate
1:00 AM–3:00 AM
In 2 nights
Moderate
10:00 PM–12:00 AM
Aurora Forecast AI Tracker
Get aurora alerts for Qaanaaq
Save Qaanaaq 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 Months to See the Northern Lights in Qaanaaq
The aurora season in Qaanaaq usually runs from September to April.
Hours of darkness in Qaanaaq
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13.5 | 8.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.5 | 12.2 | 15.0 |
Polar night: 28 October – 13 February
Midnight sun: 22 April – 21 August
No astronomical darkness: 7 March – 6 October
Other aurora viewing spots near Qaanaaq
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see the Northern Lights in Qaanaaq tonight?
The chance of seeing the Northern Lights in Qaanaaq tonight depends on geomagnetic activity, cloud cover, darkness, moonlight, and local viewing conditions.
What is the best time to see the Northern Lights in Qaanaaq?
Between about 22:00 and 02:00 local time, in the months when there is any night to speak of. This far north the sun stays below the horizon for weeks in winter and above it for weeks in summer, so the question of when to go out is mostly a question of which month it is.
What are the best months to see the Northern Lights in Qaanaaq?
September to April. This far north the sun stays below the horizon for weeks in winter and above it for weeks in summer, so the season is set entirely by daylight. Note that being closer to the pole does not mean more aurora: Qaanaaq sits inside the polar cap, poleward of the ring where aurora is most frequent.
Where is the best place to see the Northern Lights in Qaanaaq?
You can watch from Qaanaaq itself. With this few lights around, a garden or the nearest open field is enough, provided nothing blocks the northern horizon. What matters more here is the moon: a bright one washes out faint aurora, so nights near new moon are the ones to pick.