Northern Lights Tonight in Aberdeen, Scotland
Tonight in Aberdeen: aurora is possible. Kp peaks at 4.7, at or above the local Kp 4.6 threshold; clouds 69%. Best window: 10 PM – 12 AM GMT, look north-northwest, low on the horizon.
Visibility now
ModerateKp 2.0 now (quiet); this spot needs Kp 4.6+.
Kp: NOAA SWPC · Oval: NOAA OVATION · Clouds: Open-Meteo · Updated every 15 minutes.
Get a 72-hour aurora forecast and free alerts for Aberdeen
Aberdeen aurora forecast
| GMT | Kp | Chance | Status | Clouds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 PM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 95% |
| 7 PM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 100% |
| 8 PM | 4.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 98% |
| 9 PM | 4.7 | 44 of 100 | Moderate | 85% |
| 10 PM | 4.7 | 59 of 100 | High | 12% |
| 11 PM | 3.7 | 30 of 100 | Low | 50% |
Chance combines Kp against the local threshold, clouds, darkness and the moon. Hours before dark read “Too light”.
Kp is just one factor. The app adds clouds, moon, darkness, latitude and solar wind for each night.
Which nights are best?
The first night in the NOAA outlook that reaches Aberdeen's Kp 4.6 is Nov 17.
~46 aurora nights per year
Dark nights when Kp reached 4.6, average of the last three years (GFZ Potsdam). Clouds not counted.
Average nights per month since 2015. Best months to visit: Mar, Sep, Oct.
Tonight's best window
Best time tonight:10 PM – 12 AM GMT, look north-northwest, low on the horizon.
Fully dark from 6:20 PM to 5:24 AM GMT.
Why this forecast?
Aurora Borealis Viewing in Aberdeen
Aberdeen is one of the easier big cities in Britain for the aurora: the Kp threshold is 4.6, and a moderate storm can put a green glow low over the North Sea. The city faces east, so the northern horizon runs along the coast rather than over open water, and the port and harbor lights cut into it near the center.
The coast north of the city is the best close option. Balmedie Beach, a long stretch of sand and dunes beside Balmedie Country Park, is dark on its northern side toward the Sands of Forvie, and there is plenty of room to set up a tripod. Heading further along the coast gives you the same dark dunes with fewer lights. Back in the city, Torry Battery and the cliffs at Girdle Ness face east and south and catch the harbor glare.
For truly dark skies, go inland to the Cairngorms. Tomintoul and Glenlivet is a gold tier dark sky park to the west, with the moor and hills in every direction. North Sea cloud and sea fret are the usual spoilers: the coast can be socked in while the hills inland are clear, so a look at the cloud map tells you which way to drive.
For the whole picture, check the northern lights tonight overview or the live aurora map.
Dark-sky spots near Aberdeen
Balmedie Beach and Country Park
Long sandy beach backed by dunes north of Aberdeen. The northern side runs toward the Sands of Forvie with little light.
Tomintoul and Glenlivet, Cairngorms
International Dark Sky Park (DarkSky International), Gold Tier
Highland moor and glen inside the Cairngorms National Park. Often described as the darkest sky in the UK.
Other cities in the UK
Inverness
Edinburgh
Glasgow
Belfast
London
Plan your trip
Northern Lights in Aberdeen: Quick Guide
How often can you see the northern lights in Aberdeen?
What Kp do I need to see the northern lights in Aberdeen?
Can I see the northern lights tonight in Aberdeen?
Where should I look for the northern lights in Aberdeen?
What time is best tonight in Aberdeen?
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Know when the sky is worth your time
The forecast on this page, watching your location all night and telling you when to step outside.
The hour tonight when Kp, clouds and darkness line up for your spot.
A push alert 30–90 minutes before the aurora reaches your sky, even at 2 AM.
Where the clouds open nearby, so you know which way to drive.
Learn more about the northern lights
How to See the Northern Lights: A Beginner's Guide
Three conditions decide whether you see the northern lights: activity at your latitude, a clear sky and darkness. Here is how to check each one.
Aurora Colors and What They Mean
Green, red, blue, purple and pink aurora explained: which gas makes each color, how high it glows, and why your camera shows more than your eyes.
Northern Lights in Canada: Best Places
The best places to see the northern lights in Canada: Yellowknife, Whitehorse, Churchill, Jasper and the prairies, plus what Ontario and Quebec get.
Northern Lights in Scotland
Where to see the northern lights in Scotland: north coast, islands, Cairngorms and dark sky parks, when the sky is dark enough, and how to beat cloud.
Northern Lights in Norway
Where to see the northern lights in Norway, which months work, why the coast and inland need different plans, and what Oslo gets in a storm.
Aurora Australis Forecast Guide
How to read a forecast for the southern lights: Kp, Bz, the southern oval, darkness, moon and cloud, plus where to look in Tasmania and southern Australia.
Kp index today
Live Kp, the 3-day and 27-day forecast, and what Kp each city needs.
Geomagnetic storm today
G-scale now, the storm outlook and how far south the aurora reaches.