Iceland—
Reykjavík
Capital region
Awaiting forecast—%
Look for an open horizon away from the city lights.
Loading weather…—
Checking conditionsDark-sky seasonSeptember–April
NORTHERN & SOUTHERN LIGHTS
Where will the aurora
show up next?
A big sky. A little planning. Explore the forecast, find a dark spot, and give yourself a chance to see something extraordinary.
AURORA OUTLOOK
Checking the sky
Loading the short-term aurora model
DESTINATIONS IN THE OVAL
—/ 25
Model activity, not confirmed sightings
MODEL FORECAST TIME
—
Waiting for NOAA data
THE SHORT-TERM OUTLOOK
Follow the aurora.
Aurora probability
0%50%100%
Model activityDestination
PromisingCloud-limited
Loading aurora forecast…
Connecting to NOAA’s OVATION model
Short-term model · weather at destination markers · Understand the forecast
FIND YOUR PLACE UNDER THE SKY
Aurora destinations
Familiar favorites and places a little further afield. Select a destination to explore it on the map.
Canada—
Whitehorse
Yukon
Awaiting forecast—%
Use designated viewing areas outside the city glow.
Loading weather…—
Checking conditionsDark-sky seasonAugust–April
Canada—
Yellowknife
Northwest Territories
Awaiting forecast—%
A northern base with wide horizons beyond town.
Loading weather…—
Checking conditionsDark-sky seasonAugust–April
Norway—
Tromsø
Northern Norway
Awaiting forecast—%
Check coastal cloud cover before choosing a viewing spot.
Loading weather…—
Checking conditionsDark-sky seasonSeptember–March
Finland—
Inari
Finnish Lapland
Awaiting forecast—%
Seek a dark, accessible spot with a view of the sky.
Loading weather…—
Checking conditionsDark-sky seasonSeptember–March
United States—
Fairbanks
Alaska
Awaiting forecast—%
An interior Alaska base close to the auroral oval.
Loading weather…—
Checking conditionsDark-sky seasonAugust–April
Sweden—
Abisko
Swedish Lapland
Awaiting forecast—%
Check local conditions and keep to accessible viewing areas.
Loading weather…—
Checking conditionsDark-sky seasonSeptember–March
Finland—
Rovaniemi
Finnish Lapland
Awaiting forecast—%
Head beyond urban lighting when the sky is clear.
Loading weather…—
Checking conditionsDark-sky seasonSeptember–March
Iceland—
Akureyri
North Iceland
Awaiting forecast—%
Check cloud forecasts across the surrounding fjord.
Loading weather…—
Checking conditionsDark-sky seasonSeptember–April
Norway—
Alta
Finnmark
Awaiting forecast—%
Choose a dark location with an unobstructed sky.
Loading weather…—
Checking conditionsDark-sky seasonSeptember–March
Norway—
Lofoten
Svolvær reference point
Awaiting forecast—%
Mountain silhouettes and coastal weather shape the view.
Loading weather…—
Checking conditionsDark-sky seasonSeptember–March
Finland—
Kilpisjärvi
Finnish Lapland
Awaiting forecast—%
Prepare for Arctic weather and choose a safe viewing area.
Loading weather…—
Checking conditionsDark-sky seasonSeptember–March
Sweden—
Kiruna
Swedish Lapland
Awaiting forecast—%
Look beyond town lighting for faint auroral displays.
Loading weather…—
Checking conditionsDark-sky seasonSeptember–March
Canada—
Churchill
Manitoba
Awaiting forecast—%
Follow local wildlife guidance; choose organized viewing areas.
Loading weather…—
Checking conditionsDark-sky seasonAugust–April
United States—
Anchorage
Alaska
Awaiting forecast—%
A dark northern horizon helps when activity reaches this latitude.
Loading weather…—
Checking conditionsDark-sky seasonAugust–April
Canada—
Kuujjuaq
Nunavik, Québec
Awaiting forecast—%
Watch local conditions in this northern Québec community.
Loading weather…—
Checking conditionsDark-sky seasonAugust–April
Greenland—
Kangerlussuaq
Western Greenland
Awaiting forecast—%
Long winter nights offer dark skies when clouds allow.
Loading weather…—
Checking conditionsDark-sky seasonSeptember–March
Greenland—
Ilulissat
Disko Bay
Awaiting forecast—%
Use safe, marked areas and stay clear of unlit coastal hazards.
Loading weather…—
Checking conditionsDark-sky seasonSeptember–March
United Kingdom—
Shetland
Lerwick reference point
Awaiting forecast—%
Northern-horizon displays are possible during stronger activity.
Loading weather…—
Checking conditionsDark-sky seasonSeptember–March
United Kingdom—
Orkney
Kirkwall reference point
Awaiting forecast—%
Look for a clear northern horizon away from artificial light.
Loading weather…—
Checking conditionsDark-sky seasonSeptember–March
Norway—
Longyearbyen
Svalbard
Awaiting forecast—%
Follow local polar-bear safety rules; do not walk outside town unprepared.
Loading weather…—
Checking conditionsDark-sky seasonOctober–February
Australia—
Hobart
Tasmania
Awaiting forecast—%
Find a clear southern horizon when southern activity strengthens.
Loading weather…—
Checking conditionsDark-sky seasonMarch–September
New Zealand—
Lake Tekapo
Mackenzie Country
Awaiting forecast—%
Southern lights are occasional; check activity and local clouds.
Loading weather…—
Checking conditionsDark-sky seasonMarch–September
New Zealand—
Queenstown
Otago
Awaiting forecast—%
Choose a location with a southern view beyond town lighting.
Loading weather…—
Checking conditionsDark-sky seasonMarch–September
New Zealand—
Stewart Island / Rakiura
Oban reference point
Awaiting forecast—%
A southern base for watching the aurora australis under clear skies.
Loading weather…—
Checking conditionsDark-sky seasonMarch–September
No destinations match your search. Try a country or another region.
Activity is sampled from the forecast at each reference point. Aurora probability is unchanged by weather. Viewing conditions combine model activity, darkness, and forecast cloud cover; they are not a sighting guarantee. Seasons describe typical dark months, not guaranteed sightings.
Weather data from MET Norway · CC BY 4.0 · Loading destination forecasts
PLAN A LITTLE FURTHER AHEAD
The days ahead
Forecast Kp gives the broader picture. Check the short-term map again before going out.
Unsettled
3.0 peak Kp
Highest predicted three-hour Kp
Unsettled
3.0 peak Kp
Highest predicted three-hour Kp
Unsettled
3.0 peak Kp
Highest predicted three-hour Kp
Dates shown in UTC.
Detailed space weather forecastNOAA reports & three-hour outlook
Three-hour Kp forecast
Each bar is a three-hour forecast period. Select a bar for its exact time and Kp.
View the forecast as a table
| Time (UTC) | Predicted Kp |
|---|---|
| Nov 10 00-03 UTC | 3.00 |
| Nov 10 03-06 UTC | 3.00 |
| Nov 10 06-09 UTC | 2.33 |
| Nov 10 09-12 UTC | 2.67 |
| Nov 10 12-15 UTC | 2.33 |
| Nov 10 15-18 UTC | 2.00 |
| Nov 10 18-21 UTC | 2.33 |
| Nov 10 21-00 UTC | 2.67 |
| Nov 11 00-03 UTC | 3.00 |
| Nov 11 03-06 UTC | 3.00 |
| Nov 11 06-09 UTC | 2.67 |
| Nov 11 09-12 UTC | 2.33 |
| Nov 11 12-15 UTC | 2.00 |
| Nov 11 15-18 UTC | 1.33 |
| Nov 11 18-21 UTC | 2.33 |
| Nov 11 21-00 UTC | 2.33 |
| Nov 12 00-03 UTC | 3.00 |
| Nov 12 03-06 UTC | 2.67 |
| Nov 12 06-09 UTC | 2.33 |
| Nov 12 09-12 UTC | 2.00 |
| Nov 12 12-15 UTC | 1.33 |
| Nov 12 15-18 UTC | 1.33 |
| Nov 12 18-21 UTC | 1.00 |
| Nov 12 21-00 UTC | 2.00 |
Geomagnetic activity
The greatest observed 3 hr Kp over the past 24 hours was 3 (below NOAA Scale levels).
The greatest expected 3 hr Kp for Nov 10-Nov 12 2026 is 3.00 (below NOAA Scale levels).
Rationale: No G1 (Minor) or greater geomagnetic storms are expected. No significant transient or recurrent solar wind features are forecast.
Ap index forecast
Issued
Observed Ap 08 Nov 021
Estimated Ap 09 Nov 014
Predicted Ap 10 Nov-12 Nov 012-010-008
Geomagnetic activity probabilities
Active 35/25/20
Minor storm 25/05/05
Moderate storm 05/01/01
Strong-Extreme storm 01/01/01
Solar radiation
Solar radiation, as observed by NOAA GOES-18 over the past 24 hours, was below S-scale storm level thresholds.
Rationale: There is a slight chance for an S1 (Minor) or greater solar radiation storms all three days due to the potential and location of Region 4566.
| Nov 10 | Nov 11 | Nov 12 | |
| S1 or greater | 15% | 15% | 15% |
Radio blackouts
No radio blackouts were observed over the past 24 hours.
Rationale: There is a chance for R1-R2 (Minor-Moderate) blackouts, and a slight chance for R3 (Strong) or greater blackouts all three days. Mainly due to the potential of Region 4566.
| Nov 10 | Nov 11 | Nov 12 | |
| R1-R2 | 60% | 60% | 60% |
| R3 or greater | 15% | 15% | 15% |
Aurora animationsNorthern & Southern Hemispheres
PLAN THE WEEKS AHEAD
NOAA 27-day outlook
Daily maximum Kp guidance for a longer look ahead. Updated weekly by NOAA, with greater uncertainty than the short-term forecast.
Dates are NOAA’s UTC reporting days. Each value is the largest expected Kp anywhere within that 24-hour period.
Kp below 4 Kp 4–<5 Kp 5+View all outlook values as a table
| Forecast period (UTC) | Maximum Kp | Planetary Ap | F10.7 (sfu) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-11-09 UTC | 4 | 15 | 125 |
| 2026-11-10 UTC | 3 | 10 | 125 |
| 2026-11-11 UTC | 3 | 10 | 120 |
| 2026-11-12 UTC | 3 | 10 | 120 |
| 2026-11-13 UTC | 2 | 5 | 120 |
| 2026-11-14 UTC | 2 | 5 | 115 |
| 2026-11-15 UTC | 2 | 5 | 100 |
| 2026-11-16 UTC | 3 | 10 | 95 |
| 2026-11-17 UTC | 5 | 20 | 95 |
| 2026-11-18 UTC | 5 | 20 | 90 |
| 2026-11-19 UTC | 3 | 10 | 90 |
| 2026-11-20 UTC | 2 | 5 | 85 |
| 2026-11-21 UTC | 2 | 5 | 90 |
| 2026-11-22 UTC | 2 | 5 | 90 |
| 2026-11-23 UTC | 2 | 5 | 85 |
| 2026-11-24 UTC | 2 | 5 | 85 |
| 2026-11-25 UTC | 2 | 5 | 90 |
| 2026-11-26 UTC | 3 | 10 | 95 |
| 2026-11-27 UTC | 5 | 24 | 95 |
| 2026-11-28 UTC | 5 | 20 | 100 |
| 2026-11-29 UTC | 3 | 8 | 105 |
| 2026-11-30 UTC | 2 | 5 | 110 |
| 2026-12-01 UTC | 3 | 8 | 115 |
| 2026-12-02 UTC | 2 | 5 | 120 |
| 2026-12-03 UTC | 3 | 8 | 120 |
| 2026-12-04 UTC | 5 | 20 | 120 |
| 2026-12-05 UTC | 5 | 20 | 115 |
Source: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center · Original report · Last checked
A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE GOES A LONG WAY
Make your next night count.
Getting started
How to read an aurora forecast
Understand the aurora map, destination activity markers, Kp index and forecast timestamps without confusing model activity with a guaranteed sighting.
4 min readPlanning a night out
When is the best time to see the northern lights?
Choose a viewing season and time of night using darkness, local weather and the short-term forecast rather than a single promised aurora hour.
4 min readPhotography
How to photograph the northern lights
A practical first-night aurora photography guide: steady your phone or camera, focus carefully, adjust exposure and leave time to enjoy the sky.
4 min readBEFORE YOU HEAD OUT
A few good questions.
The forecast is one part of the story.
The sky above you is the other.
Does a high Kp mean I’ll see the aurora?
No. Kp describes global geomagnetic activity. Your location, local aurora activity, darkness, clouds, and light pollution determine what you can actually see. Bright activity can happen at high latitudes even when Kp is low. Understand Kp and the forecast.
What do the destination markers mean?
A highlighted marker means NOAA’s short-term model indicates at least 10% aurora probability at that reference point. It is not a confirmed sighting or a weather-adjusted chance of seeing the lights. Marker centers show aurora activity; colored rings and the viewing badge indicate promising or cloud-limited conditions. These use darkness and nearby-hour cloud forecasts, not confirmed sightings.
When is the best time to look?
Choose a clear, dark night. Late evening through the hours around local midnight can be productive, but auroral activity can change quickly. At high latitudes, summer twilight can make even an active aurora impossible to see. Plan your viewing time.
How should I use the 27-day outlook?
Use it to spot potentially more active periods for flexible planning. Its values are daily maximum Kp guidance, not the timing of an aurora display or a destination’s viewing probability. Read the longer-range forecast guide.
How often does the forecast update?
The page checks NOAA’s aurora model every five minutes while it is open and shows the model timestamps. Readings older than two hours are marked stale rather than active. Weather updates are shared through a server cache that respects MET Norway’s expiry headers. The separate three-day NOAA report is fetched every twelve hours. The weekly 27-day outlook is checked independently every six hours.
Data sources & developer APIThe details behind the forecast
Where the data comes from
The map uses NOAA’s OVATION aurora model. Destination probabilities are sampled from its original one-degree grid; the map contours are smoothed and lightly padded for readability.
The Kp outlook and detailed reports come from the NOAA three-day forecast and geomagnetic forecast. Destination weather forecasts come from MET Norway under CC BY 4.0. We select the nearest forecast hour to the aurora model’s forecast time and derive a qualitative viewing label; weather percentages are not multiplied into aurora probabilities. Darkness is an approximate solar-position calculation using NOAA’s equations. Forecast weather is available for the destination reference points, not as a continuous cloud overlay.
Approximate reference points represent cities and regions, not exact viewing sites. Destination ideas: Destination Canada, Visit Iceland, Visit Norway, and Kiruna Lapland.
A small, public API
Forecast Kp for the backend’s saved forecast interval:
GET /api/kp/nowThree-day forecast times and Kp values:
GET /api/kp/forecastThese endpoints return the latest saved report, which may lag the current three-hour interval. The short-term map and destination readings are fetched separately.