Northern lights forecast
NOAA's 30-minute aurora forecast. Brighter colors mean a higher chance of aurora overhead.
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How to use this aurora map
The colored band is the auroral oval, the ring around each magnetic pole where charged particles from the Sun rain into the upper atmosphere. NOAA's OVATION model predicts how likely visible aurora is over each spot for the next half hour. Drag the slider to hide low chances, or tap Can I see it? to check your own location. Your position stays in your browser and is never sent to us.
The Kp index on the right summarizes how disturbed Earth's magnetic field is on a 0 to 9 scale. When it climbs, the oval grows and slides toward the equator, bringing the northern lights to places that rarely see them.
Frequently asked questions
What Kp index do I need to see the northern lights?
In northern Scandinavia, Iceland, Alaska and northern Canada, aurora is visible on most clear dark nights even at Kp 2 or 3. Southern Canada, Scotland and the northern US states usually need Kp 5 or higher, and Kp 7 or more can push the aurora toward the middle latitudes of Europe and the US.
How accurate is the aurora forecast?
The map shows NOAA's OVATION model, a 30 to 90 minute forecast based on solar wind measured by spacecraft about 1.5 million km upstream of Earth. It is good at saying where the aurora oval sits right now; the 3-day Kp forecast is much less certain.
What is the best time to see the aurora?
Aurora is most often strongest within an hour or two of local midnight, but it can appear any time it is dark. You need clear skies and a place away from city lights, facing the pole.
Is the aurora linked to plate tectonics?
No. Auroras are caused by charged particles from the Sun hitting the upper atmosphere, guided by Earth's magnetic field. That field is generated in the liquid outer core, far below the plates. This page sits here because many visitors use our live maps together.