Aurora Forecast Tonight in Harstad
Aurora season in Harstad runs from September to April.
Tonight's Forecast
Unlikely
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How we calculate the aurora score
UnlikelyWe combine geomagnetic activity (Kp), aurora oval probability (OVATION), cloud cover, darkness and moonlight, weighted for Harstad (region: high_latitude).
With current Kp 2.0 (location needs ≥ 2.5) and 99% cloud cover, aurora viewing is unlikely at Harstad.
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.
Aurora viewing is unlikely tonight.
Aurora visibility in Harstad is unlikely tonight. Current conditions do not strongly support visible Northern Lights.
With current Kp 2.0 (location needs ≥ 2.5) and 99% cloud cover, aurora viewing is unlikely at Harstad.
Max Kp
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Max Kp
Near thresholdKp is close to the minimum needed — a faint aurora may appear low on the horizon.
2.0
Near threshold
Cloud Cover
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Cloud Cover
OvercastOver 85% cloud — aurora effectively hidden.
100%
Overcast
Moon
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Moon
Bright moonOver 75% illuminated — only strong displays will be visible.
80%
Bright moon
OVATION
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OVATION
Moderate5–20% probability — aurora possible.
10%
Moderate
Best Viewing Window
12:00 AM – 2:00 AM
This is the best available window, but geomagnetic activity is expected to be low.
Direction to Look
Overhead or north
This is a high-latitude location, so aurora may appear overhead or toward the northern sky.
Recommendation
Check the forecast again later. Aurora conditions can change quickly during geomagnetic activity.
Hour-by-hour visibility
Estimated aurora visibility score for each hour of tonight at Harstad.
11:00 PM
8/10011:00 PM: 8/100 — unlikely
Max Kp
2.0
Cloud Cover
100%
Moon
80%
OVATION
10%
22
12:00 AM
22/100Max Kp
2.0
Cloud Cover
100%
Moon
80%
OVATION
10%
22
1:00 AM
22/100Max Kp
2.0
Cloud Cover
100%
Moon
80%
OVATION
10%
2:00 AM
8/1002:00 AM: 8/100 — unlikely
Max Kp
2.0
Cloud Cover
100%
Moon
80%
OVATION
10%
3:00 AM
8/1003:00 AM: 8/100 — unlikely
Max Kp
2.0
Cloud Cover
100%
Moon
80%
OVATION
10%
Best viewing window: 12:00 AM – 2:00 AM. Peak around 12:00 AM with a visibility score of 22/100.
Why this forecast?
The forecast is unlikely because one or more key conditions are not favorable for visible aurora tonight.
Score breakdown
How tonight's aurora score for Harstad breaks down into activity and visibility components.
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Geomagnetic activity
10 / 30Geomagnetic activity (Kp 2.0) contribution to the score.
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Aurora oval probability
10 / 30OVATION aurora oval probability (10%) contribution.
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Cloud cover
0 / 20Cloud cover (99%) contribution — clear skies score full points.
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Darkness
10 / 15Sky darkness contribution — astronomical darkness scores full points.
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Moonlight
1 / 5Moon illumination (80%) contribution — new moon scores full points.
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Aurora zone
+5 ptsLatitude/zone bonus for Harstad.
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Geomagnetic activity (Kp index)
Near thresholdKp measures how disturbed Earth's magnetic field is on a 0–9 scale. Higher Kp pushes the aurora oval toward the equator. Harstad needs Kp ≥ 2.5.
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.
Near threshold
Geomagnetic activity is only marginal for Harstad: expected Kp is 2.0, while this location usually needs around 2.5.
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Cloud cover
OvercastAverage 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.
Overcast
Cloud cover is high tonight, which can block the view even if aurora activity is present.
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Sky darkness
Nautical twilightAurora 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.
Nautical twilight
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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 80% illuminated — expect washed-out faint aurora.
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Aurora oval probability (OVATION)
ModerateNOAA'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.
Moderate
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Aurora zone
Good zoneHow favourable Harstad'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
Harstad is in a good aurora region, where aurora is possible during moderate geomagnetic activity.
Data sources
- · NOAA SWPC Kp forecast
- · NOAA OVATION aurora model
- · Open-Meteo cloud forecast
Aurora Forecast AI Tracker
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Best Months to See the Northern Lights in Harstad
The aurora season in Harstad usually runs from September to April.
Harstad sits at 67.0° magnetic latitude, which means aurora typically becomes visible when the Kp index reaches 2.5+. Being just south of the main auroral zone, Harstad requires slightly stronger geomagnetic activity for a good show. The best viewing season is during the dark months from September to April.