Northern lights forecast
Tonight across Iceland
The bigger the glow, the better your chances
Best places tonight
Ranked by clear sky during the dark hours, and aurora activity
- 1PatreksfjörðurBest bet around 04:00 · 100% clear at bestGreat chance
- 2KeflavíkBest bet around 04:00 · 99% clear at bestGreat chance
- 3SauðárkrókurBest bet around 21:00 · 59% clear at bestGreat chance
- 4StykkishólmurBest bet around 03:00 · 30% clear at bestGood chance
- 5ÍsafjörðurBest bet around 01:00 · 32% clear at bestGood chance
- 6SiglufjörðurBest bet around 19:00 · 33% clear at bestSome chance
- 7BorgarnesWestClouded out
- 8ReykjavíkCapitalClouded out
- 9HólmavíkWestfjordsClouded out
Activity, next three nights
Planetary Kp index from NOAA. In Iceland, Kp 2–3 is often enough to see it overhead.
Cloud cover tonight, town by town
Each bar is an hour of darkness; the lower the cloud, the brighter the bar
How to see them
Cloud beats Kp
A strong display behind thick cloud is invisible. Pick the clearest place within reach before you worry about the Kp number.
Get properly dark
Ten minutes out of town makes a huge difference. Give your eyes fifteen minutes away from screens and headlights.
Late is better
Displays often build between ten at night and two in the morning, and come in waves. Be patient and dress for standing still.
Your phone sees more
Night mode on a steady phone picks up colour your eyes can't. A faint grey arc overhead is often green on camera.
Never stop on the road
Every winter cars stop on the road or the narrow shoulder to watch, and accidents follow. Drive on to a proper pull-out or car park.
Questions visitors ask
Can I see the northern lights in Iceland tonight?
Great chance. The best outlook is around 04:00 near Patreksfjörður, 100% clear.
When is the northern lights season in Iceland?
From late August to mid-April, when the nights are dark enough. In May, June and July the nights are too bright.
What time are the northern lights best in Iceland?
Usually between 10 pm and 2 am, though they can appear any time it's dark. They come in waves, so patience pays.
What Kp index do I need to see the aurora in Iceland?
Iceland sits under the auroral oval, so Kp 2–3 is often enough to see it overhead on a clear night. Cloud cover matters more than Kp.