Aurora Forecast Tonight in Adak
Aurora season in Adak runs from August to April.
Tonight's Forecast
Unlikely
?
How we calculate the aurora score
UnlikelyWe combine geomagnetic activity (Kp), aurora oval probability (OVATION), cloud cover, darkness and moonlight, weighted for Adak (region: low_latitude).
With current Kp 2.3 (location needs ≥ 6) and 96% cloud cover, aurora viewing is unlikely at Adak.
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 Adak is unlikely tonight. Current conditions do not strongly support visible Northern Lights.
With current Kp 2.3 (location needs ≥ 6) and 96% cloud cover, aurora viewing is unlikely at Adak.
Max Kp
?
Max Kp
Below thresholdKp is below the minimum needed at this latitude.
2.3
Below threshold
Cloud Cover
?
Cloud Cover
OvercastOver 85% cloud — aurora effectively hidden.
95%
Overcast
Moon
?
Moon
Bright moonOver 75% illuminated — only strong displays will be visible.
86%
Bright moon
OVATION
?
OVATION
LowLess than 5% probability — aurora unlikely to reach this location.
0%
Low
Best Viewing Window
10:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Best balance of darkness, geomagnetic activity and local sky conditions.
Direction to Look
North
This location is farther from the auroral oval, so aurora is most likely to appear low on the northern horizon during strong activity.
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 Adak.
36
10:00 PM
36/10010:00 PM: 36/100 — low
Max Kp
2.3
Moon
86%
OVATION
0%
36
11:00 PM
36/10011:00 PM: 36/100 — low
Max Kp
1.7
Moon
86%
OVATION
0%
12:00 AM
17/10012:00 AM: 17/100 — unlikely
Max Kp
1.7
Cloud Cover
95%
Moon
86%
OVATION
0%
1:00 AM
16/1001:00 AM: 16/100 — unlikely
Max Kp
1.7
Cloud Cover
99%
Moon
86%
OVATION
0%
Best viewing window: 10:00 PM – 12:00 AM. Peak around 10:00 PM with a visibility score of 36/100.
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 Adak breaks down into activity and visibility components.
?
Geomagnetic activity
0 / 45Geomagnetic activity (Kp 2.3) contribution to the score.
?
Aurora oval probability
0 / 15OVATION aurora oval probability (0%) contribution.
?
Cloud cover
1 / 20Cloud cover (96%) contribution — clear skies score full points.
?
Darkness
15 / 15Sky darkness contribution — astronomical darkness scores full points.
?
Moonlight
1 / 5Moon illumination (86%) contribution — new moon scores full points.
?
Aurora zone
-5 ptsLatitude/zone bonus for Adak.
?
Geomagnetic activity (Kp index)
Below thresholdKp measures how disturbed Earth's magnetic field is on a 0–9 scale. Higher Kp pushes the aurora oval toward the equator. Adak needs Kp ≥ 6.
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.
Below threshold
Geomagnetic activity is below the usual visibility threshold for Adak: expected Kp is 2.3, while this location usually needs around 6.
?
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.
?
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.
?
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 86% illuminated — expect washed-out faint aurora.
?
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.
?
Aurora zone
Low zoneHow favourable Adak'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.
Low zone
Adak is outside the main aurora zone, so visible aurora usually requires a strong geomagnetic storm.
3-Day Aurora Forecast for Adak
Tonight
Unlikely
10:00 PM–12:00 AM
Tomorrow night
Low
11:00 PM–1:00 AM
In 2 nights
Unlikely
10:00 PM–2:00 AM
Aurora Forecast AI Tracker
Get aurora alerts for Adak
Save Adak 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 Adak
The aurora season in Adak usually runs from August to April.
Hours of darkness in Adak
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11.7 | 10.2 | 8.3 | 5.7 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.5 | 7.5 | 9.5 | 11.2 | 12.0 |
No astronomical darkness: 21 May – 22 July
Other aurora viewing spots near Adak
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see the Northern Lights in Adak tonight?
Rarely. Adak is far enough from the pole that it takes Kp 6 or more, storm levels, before the ring stretches this far. When it does, expect a faint glow low on the northern horizon rather than anything overhead — and a clear sky, or none of it matters.
What Kp index is needed to see the Northern Lights in Adak?
Aurora is rare this far from the pole. Adak sits at 47.8° geomagnetic latitude, about 18° south of the quiet oval, and needs Kp 6 or more before the ring stretches far enough — storm levels, not an ordinary night. When it does happen it is usually a faint glow low in the north, often clearer in a photograph than to the eye.
What are the best months to see the Northern Lights in Adak?
The best months to see the Northern Lights in Adak are typically August to April, when nights are darker and aurora viewing conditions are better.
Where is the best place to see the Northern Lights in Adak?
You can watch from Adak 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.