Scotland: Northern Lights Tonight, City by City
Aurora season in Scotland runs from September to April.
Scotland tonight
Moderate
Best aurora chance tonight, Scotland: Moderate. Best place: Lerwick, 11:00 PM–2:00 AM. Clouds are the limit there: about 99% cover tonight.
| Place | Aurora Score | Best viewing window | Cloud cover | Min Kp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lerwick | 50Moderate | 11:00 PM–2:00 AM | 99% | 4 |
| Kirkwall | 49Moderate | 11:00 PM–2:00 AM | 100% | 4 |
| Thurso | 49Moderate | 11:00 PM–2:00 AM | 100% | 4 |
| Wick | 49Moderate | 11:00 PM–2:00 AM | 100% | 4 |
| Stornoway | 49Moderate | 11:00 PM–2:00 AM | 100% | 4 |
| Ullapool | 49Moderate | 11:00 PM–2:00 AM | 100% | 4 |
| Portree | 49Moderate | 11:00 PM–2:00 AM | 100% | 4 |
| Edinburgh | 38Low | 11:00 PM–2:00 AM | 92% | 5 |
| Inverness | 36Low | 11:00 PM–2:00 AM | 100% | 5 |
| Aviemore | 36Low | 11:00 PM–2:00 AM | 100% | 5 |
| Aberdeen | 36Low | 11:00 PM–2:00 AM | 100% | 5 |
| Fort William | 36Low | 11:00 PM–2:00 AM | 100% | 5 |
| Oban | 36Low | 11:00 PM–2:00 AM | 100% | 5 |
| Dundee | 36Low | 11:00 PM–2:00 AM | 100% | 5 |
| Perth | 36Low | 11:00 PM–2:00 AM | 100% | 5 |
| Stirling | 36Low | 11:00 PM–2:00 AM | 100% | 5 |
| Glasgow | 36Low | 11:00 PM–2:00 AM | 100% | 5 |
Aurora Forecast AI Tracker
Get aurora alerts for Scotland
Track the aurora forecast for Scotland 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
Scotland in numbers
- Cities on this site
- 17
- Latitude
- 55.9°–60.2°
- Geomagnetic latitude
- 53.1°–57.9°
- Min Kp
- 4–5
- Aurora zone
- Mid-latitude
Best Months to See the Northern Lights in Scotland
The aurora season in Scotland usually runs from September to April.
Where the odds are best in Scotland
| Place | Aurora zone | Min Kp | Geomagnetic latitude | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇬🇧LerwickScotland | Mid-latitude | 4 | 57.9° | August to April |
| 🇬🇧KirkwallScotland | Mid-latitude | 4 | 56.6° | August to April |
| 🇬🇧ThursoScotland | Mid-latitude | 4 | 56.2° | August to April |
| 🇬🇧WickScotland | Mid-latitude | 4 | 56.0° | August to April |
| 🇬🇧StornowayScotland | Mid-latitude | 4 | 56.0° | August to April |
| 🇬🇧UllapoolScotland | Mid-latitude | 4 | 55.5° | September to April |
| 🇬🇧PortreeScotland | Mid-latitude | 4 | 55.0° | September to April |
| 🇬🇧InvernessScotland | Mid-latitude | 5 | 55.0° | September to April |
| 🇬🇧AviemoreScotland | Mid-latitude | 5 | 54.6° | September to April |
| 🇬🇧AberdeenScotland | Mid-latitude | 5 | 54.5° | September to April |
| 🇬🇧Fort WilliamScotland | Mid-latitude | 5 | 54.3° | September to April |
| 🇬🇧ObanScotland | Mid-latitude | 5 | 53.8° | September to April |
| 🇬🇧DundeeScotland | Mid-latitude | 5 | 53.7° | September to April |
| 🇬🇧PerthScotland | Mid-latitude | 5 | 53.7° | September to April |
| 🇬🇧StirlingScotland | Mid-latitude | 5 | 53.4° | September to April |
| 🇬🇧EdinburghScotland | Mid-latitude | 5 | 53.1° | September to April |
| 🇬🇧GlasgowScotland | Mid-latitude | 5 | 53.1° | September to April |
Other regions in United Kingdom
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see the Northern Lights in Scotland tonight?
Scotland: it depends on where you are and on tonight's sky. Lerwick needs about Kp 4; Glasgow needs about Kp 5. 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 Scotland?
Scotland 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: Lerwick needs about Kp 4, Glasgow about Kp 5. Each city's page gives its own threshold.
What are the best months to see the Northern Lights in Scotland?
September to April, with November to February the darkest stretch — though at this latitude the season is set by how often a storm reaches you, not by daylight.
Where is the best place to see the Northern Lights in Scotland?
Scotland: of the places in this list, Lerwick needs the least — about Kp 4 — while Glasgow needs about Kp 5. Wherever you are, a dark sky away from city lights matters more than the exact spot.