Aurora borealis forecast
Where and when to see the aurora borealis (northern lights). Live KP-index forecast from NOAA, 3-day outlook, and the 10 best destinations ranked by aurora reliability.
Tonight's outlook (live)
Source: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center — refreshes hourly.
Top 10 aurora destinations
Verdicts below update live based on the current KP index — green if the aurora is likely visible tonight at that destination.
Most accessible aurora destination — direct flights from East-Coast US/UK, short drive to dark skies.
Above the Arctic Circle — aurora visible at very low geomagnetic activity. Often the brightest displays.
Lapland — combine with Santa's Village and reindeer if traveling with kids.
Best aurora odds in North America. Clear inland skies — 80%+ chance over 3 nights in season.
Cold and remote — but reliable. Tour operators bus you to dark-sky cabins each night.
Yukon alternative to Yellowknife, slightly milder winters.
Home of the Icehotel. Abisko nearby has a microclimate that beats clouds — 'Aurora Sky Station' is well-named.
Aurora visible if KP >= 3 — but drive north (Talkeetna, Denali) for darker skies.
Far north on the Kola Peninsula. Tourism limited but possible.
Aurora over icebergs. Logistically expensive but unforgettable.
Aurora 101 — what you need to know
KP index — the magic number
The KP index measures geomagnetic activity on a 0-9 scale. The higher the number, the further south the aurora is visible:
- KP 0-1 — Aurora confined to the highest latitudes (Svalbard, Greenland)
- KP 2-3 — Visible from Tromsø, Fairbanks, Yellowknife, Murmansk
- KP 4 — Visible from Reykjavík, Anchorage, southern Iceland, central Sweden
- KP 5 — Visible from Edinburgh, Anchorage, Vancouver, Stockholm. Officially "minor geomagnetic storm."
- KP 6-7 — Visible from northern UK, US-Canada border states (Maine, Minnesota, Washington). Strong storm.
- KP 8-9 — Visible as far south as New York, Berlin, Paris. Rare — once or twice per solar cycle peak.
When to go
Aurora season runs late August through April — you need dark skies, so summers near the Arctic Circle (when the sun never sets) are useless. The aurora itself happens year-round; you just can't see it in the bright sky.
Best months: late September to mid-March. Equinox months (Sept-Oct and Feb-Mar) statistically produce more geomagnetic activity due to favorable Earth-Sun magnetic alignment.
Stay 3+ nights
Even at the best destinations, the aurora needs clear skies AND geomagnetic activity AND darkness. A 3-night minimum gives you ~70% odds; 5+ nights pushes you over 90%.
Photography tips
- Phone cameras (iPhone 12+, Pixel 6+, Galaxy S21+) have night modes that capture aurora better than your eyes see it
- For a real camera: tripod, fast wide lens (f/2.8 or wider), ISO 1600-3200, 5-15 second exposure
- Manual focus to infinity — autofocus fails in the dark
- Composition matters more than gear — get a mountain, lake, or building in the foreground
- Cold drains batteries 3× faster — keep spares warm in inner pockets