Free Tool · Live NOAA aurora data

Northern lights forecast: can you see the aurora tonight?

See where the northern lights (aurora borealis) and southern lights (aurora australis) are forecast right now on a live map, the chance of aurora overhead and within view of your town, when it gets dark enough, and the Kp index forecast for the next 3 days. Updated about every 5 minutes from NOAA. Free, no signup.

Can I see the northern lights tonight?

Chance of aurora overhead:under 10%10–29%30–49%50–69%70%+

Aurora forecast (OVATION model, 30 to 90 minutes ahead) and Kp index from the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center. Cloud cover is not included: check the weather too. Your location stays on your device.

Kp index and where the aurora can be seen

KpLevelOften seen from
0–2QuietArctic Norway, Iceland, northern Finland and Sweden, Alaska, northern Canada
3–4Unsettled to activeAlso the Faroes, Shetland, central Scandinavia, southern Alaska
5 (G1)Minor stormScotland, southern Norway and Sweden, the Baltic states, the northern US states, Tasmania
6–7 (G2–G3)Moderate to strong stormNorthern England, Ireland, Denmark, Germany's north, northern Poland, New Zealand's South Island
8–9 (G4–G5)Severe to extreme stormMuch of Europe and the US; in May 2024 it was photographed as far south as Spain and Florida

These are rough guides for a dark, clear night. The aurora sits in an oval around each magnetic pole, which is offset towards Canada in the north, so Alaska and Canada see it further south than Europe at the same Kp.

Tips for seeing the northern lights

  • Get away from lights. Even a small town’s glow hides a faint aurora; a dark spot 20 minutes out of town makes a big difference.
  • Look towards the pole: north in the northern hemisphere, south in the southern.
  • Check clouds and the moon. Clear skies are essential, and a full moon washes out faint displays.
  • Be patient. Activity comes and goes; give it at least an hour, and let your eyes adjust for 15 minutes without a phone screen.
  • Use your camera. Night mode often shows aurora before you can see it.

Frequently asked questions

Can I see the northern lights tonight?

Press "Aurora near me" or search your town. The tool shows the chance of aurora overhead, the strongest aurora within about 800 km (which can be seen low on the horizon), and whether it is dark enough. You also need a clear sky, so check the cloud forecast.

What Kp do I need to see the aurora?

In northern Norway, Iceland, Finland and Alaska, Kp 2 or 3 is often enough on a dark, clear night. Around Kp 5, a minor storm, the aurora can often be seen from Scotland, southern Scandinavia, the Baltic states and the northern US. Kp 7 or more can bring it much further south, as in May and October 2024.

What time is best to see the northern lights?

Usually within an hour or two either side of local midnight, but displays can happen any time it is dark. They often come in bursts of 10 to 30 minutes, so stay out for a while.

Why do photos show more colour than my eyes?

In dim light the eye sees little colour, so a faint aurora can look like a grey-white cloud. A phone in night mode or a camera on a few seconds' exposure collects more light and shows the green and red clearly.

How accurate is the aurora forecast?

The map is a short-term forecast, 30 to 90 minutes ahead, based on solar wind measured by spacecraft between the Earth and the Sun. The 3-day Kp forecast is less certain, because the timing and strength of solar storms are hard to predict until they arrive.

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