Aurora Tonight: Is the Northern Lights Forecast Looking Good?
Tonight's aurora is most likely confined to high latitudes. The current planetary Kp index is 1.0 (Quiet), below the Kp 5 (G1) storm threshold that pushes the aurora toward populated mid-latitudes. NOAA's strongest expected peak in the next three days is Kp 3.67 24 Jun around 18-21 UTC. At current levels the oval sits only at very high latitudes near the auroral zone — northern Norway, Iceland, northern Canada and Antarctica. If you're not near the auroral zone, watch the live Kp on this page — a sudden rise above Kp 5 is your cue to head outside.
Current Kp from NOAA SWPC · checked . Aurora visibility scales with the Kp index — the G-scale runs G1 (Kp 5) to G5 (Kp 9).
Live aurora oval — where it's visible right now
NOAA OVATION model — aurora oval probability
swpc.noaa.gov
The further south the oval extends, the further south auroras are visible. Scandinavia from Kp 3, northern Germany from Kp 6–7, central Europe from Kp 8+.
Mirror of the northern oval. Mostly visible across Antarctica, the southern tip of New Zealand, and Tasmania.
What, why and when
What it is. The aurora — the northern lights (aurora borealis) and southern lights (aurora australis) — is light produced when charged particles from the Sun funnel down Earth's magnetic field lines and collide with gases high in the atmosphere. Green comes from oxygen at around 100 km altitude; reds and purples come from oxygen and nitrogen higher up.
Why tonight matters. How far from the poles the aurora is visible depends on geomagnetic activity, measured by the Kp index. A quiet night (Kp 1–3) keeps it near the poles; a geomagnetic storm (Kp 5+ / G1+) drags the glowing oval toward the mid-latitudes, which is when people far from the Arctic suddenly get a show. That's the same disturbed field we track on the live Schumann resonance dashboard.
When to look. Aim for the hours around local midnight, under clear, dark, moonless skies, facing the pole. Check the live Kp above through the evening — the aurora can flare up within minutes of a coronal mass ejection arriving.
Aurora tonight — frequently asked
Is the aurora visible tonight? +
At current levels the aurora is mainly a high-latitude event tonight — the Kp index is 1.0, below the Kp 5 storm threshold. NOAA's forecast peak is Kp 3.67. Check the live Kp on this page; if it climbs above 5, mid-latitude sightings become possible.
What Kp index do I need to see the northern lights? +
Roughly: Kp 3–4 for far-northern locations (northern Scandinavia, Iceland, Alaska), Kp 5 (G1) for Scotland and the northern US, Kp 6–7 (G2–G3) for northern Germany and the northern-tier US, and Kp 8–9 (G4–G5) for the mid-latitudes and central Europe. The higher the Kp, the further from the poles the auroral oval extends.
What time of night is best to see the aurora? +
The hours around local midnight are usually best — typically 10 PM to 2 AM local time. You also need true darkness and clear skies, so a moonless, cloud-free night away from city light pollution gives the strongest chance. The aurora itself can appear at any time the geomagnetic activity is high enough.
Which way do I look to see the northern lights? +
In the Northern Hemisphere, look toward the northern horizon. During strong storms the aurora can climb overhead and even spread to the southern sky. In the Southern Hemisphere, look south for the aurora australis. A clear horizon with no buildings or trees in the way helps.
How accurate is the aurora forecast? +
The short-term (30–90 minute) aurora forecast from NOAA's OVATION model is fairly reliable because it's based on real-time solar wind measured at the L1 point. The 3-day Kp forecast is more uncertain — it depends on predicting when coronal mass ejections will arrive, which can be off by several hours. Watch the live Kp index for the real-time picture.
Can I see the aurora from a city? +
It is much harder from a city because light pollution washes out the fainter glow. During strong storms (Kp 7+) the brightest displays can still be seen from city outskirts, but for the best experience drive 30–60 minutes to a dark-sky location away from artificial light.
Related
The real-time dashboard — Kp index, X-ray flux and the 7.83 Hz Earth frequency.
The current Kp value, what it means and today's forecast.
Get an email the moment Kp reaches G1+ storm level.
Read how the forecast is built and how to plan around it.