Live northern lights forecast
Aurora Borealis Forecast
Check whether the northern lights are visible tonight using live Kp index, aurora map data, city-specific thresholds, cloud cover, and geomagnetic storm status in one place.
How to Read an Aurora Borealis Forecast
A useful aurora borealis forecast is not just a green oval on a map. You need three things at the same time: enough geomagnetic activity for your latitude, clear skies, and full darkness. AuroraMe combines those signals into city-level forecasts instead of making you check raw NOAA charts manually.
- Check current activity: use the tonight status hub for the live Kp outlook and best viewing window.
- Check where it is visible: open the map and tracker tool to see the live aurora oval and cities with active visibility.
- Check storm context: use the geomagnetic storm tracker to see if a stronger event is pushing aurora to lower latitudes.
Forecast Tools
Northern Lights Tonight
Best for short-term intent: live Kp, timing, and quick city lookup for tonight.
Live Aurora Tracker
Best for map intent: live aurora oval, visible-now cities, and interactive app map layers.
Geomagnetic Storm Tracker
Best for storm intent: NOAA G-scale status, Kp forecast, and rare low-latitude events.
Forecast Guide
Best for learning intent: how Kp, clouds, moonlight, and darkness change your actual odds.
Southern Lights Forecast: Australia & New Zealand
Looking south? Track aurora australis conditions for Hobart, Melbourne, Queenstown, and Christchurch. Start with the Aurora Australis forecast guide.
Popular forecast pages: aurora forecast Fairbanks, aurora forecast Tromso, aurora forecast Rovaniemi, aurora forecast Reykjavik, aurora forecast Yellowknife, aurora forecast Helsinki, and aurora forecast Canada.
What Changes Your Forecast Most?
Kp Threshold
Tromso or Fairbanks can see aurora around Kp 2. Seattle or Edinburgh often need Kp 5-6. New York or London need a severe storm.
Cloud Cover
Clouds block aurora completely. A weaker storm under clear skies beats a strong storm hidden behind thick cloud.
Darkness Window
Most viewing peaks between 10 PM and 2 AM local time, but Arctic winter can extend the window much earlier.
Storm Strength
During G3-G5 storms, the aurora oval expands south and creates the biggest mid-latitude viewing chances.
Get the Aurora Forecast on Your Phone
Free instant alerts when conditions improve at your location. AuroraMe tracks Kp, clouds, darkness, and map layers together, so you do not need to keep refreshing forecast pages manually.
Compare Forecast Apps Before You Download
Looking for the best aurora app, not just any forecast? Browse our aurora app comparison hub or jump straight to AuroraMe vs My Aurora Forecast to see the difference between a 5-factor forecast and a Kp-only app.
Aurora Destinations by Country
🇺🇸
United States
304 locations 🇨🇦
Canada
73 locations 🇷🇺
Russia
35 locations 🇳🇴
Norway
29 locations 🇫🇮
Finland
25 locations 🇬🇧
United Kingdom
23 locations 🇬🇱
Greenland
20 locations 🇸🇪
Sweden
18 locations 🇩🇰
Denmark
16 locations 🇯🇵
Japan
14 locations 🇮🇸
Iceland
12 locations 🇱🇹
Lithuania
12 locations 🇳🇱
Netherlands
12 locations 🇩🇪
Germany
12 locations 🇵🇱
Poland
12 locations 🇧🇾
Belarus
12 locationsShow all 53 countries
🇫🇷
France
12 locations 🇺🇦
Ukraine
12 locations 🇮🇹
Italy
12 locations 🇪🇸
Spain
12 locations 🇨🇱
Chile
12 locations 🇿🇦
South Africa
12 locations 🇳🇿
New Zealand
11 locations 🇦🇺
Australia
11 locations 🇦🇷
Argentina
11 locations 🇮🇪
Ireland
10 locations 🇪🇪
Estonia
10 locations 🇱🇻
Latvia
10 locations 🇧🇪
Belgium
10 locations 🇱🇺
Luxembourg
10 locations 🇨🇿
Czech Republic
10 locations 🇨🇭
Switzerland
10 locations 🇸🇰
Slovakia
10 locations 🇦🇹
Austria
10 locations 🇭🇺
Hungary
10 locations 🇸🇮
Slovenia
10 locations 🇭🇷
Croatia
10 locations 🇷🇴
Romania
10 locations 🇵🇹
Portugal
10 locations 🇷🇸
Serbia
10 locations 🇧🇦
Bosnia and Herzegovina
10 locations 🇫🇰
Falkland Islands
10 locations 🇲🇪
Montenegro
10 locations 🇧🇬
Bulgaria
10 locations 🇦🇱
Albania
10 locations 🇲🇰
North Macedonia
10 locations 🇲🇳
Mongolia
10 locations 🇬🇷
Greece
10 locations 🇲🇹
Malta
10 locations 🇨🇾
Cyprus
10 locations 🇺🇾
Uruguay
10 locations 🇧🇷
Brazil
10 locations 🇬🇸
South Georgia
9 locationsFrequently Asked Questions
What is the best aurora borealis forecast?
The best aurora borealis forecast combines geomagnetic activity with cloud cover from a privacy-preserving 0.25° local grid, darkness, and your latitude. Raw Kp alone is not enough to assess your selected location.
How accurate is an aurora borealis forecast for tonight?
Short-term forecasts for tonight are usually the most accurate because they use real-time solar wind and NOAA updates. Practical accuracy improves further when you add cloud cover and darkness instead of relying on the aurora oval alone.
What Kp index do I need to see northern lights?
It depends on your magnetic latitude. High-latitude cities may only need Kp 2-3, while mid-latitude cities often need Kp 5-7. City forecast pages on AuroraMe show the threshold for each location.
Where can I check a live aurora map?
You can use the map and tracker tool for the current aurora oval and visible-now city list, or open AuroraMe to combine the map with clouds, darkness, and light pollution layers.
What time are northern lights usually visible?
The most common viewing window is between 10 PM and 2 AM local time, when the sky is darkest. In Arctic winter you can sometimes see aurora earlier in the evening.