Aurora Australis Tonight in Adelaide, South Australia
Tonight in Adelaide: aurora is unlikely. Kp peaks at 3.7, below the local Kp 6.6 threshold; clouds 47%.
Visibility now
UnlikelyKp 2.0 now (quiet); this spot needs Kp 6.6+.
Kp: NOAA SWPC · Oval: NOAA OVATION · Clouds: Open-Meteo · Updated every 15 minutes.
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Adelaide aurora forecast
| ACDT | Kp | Chance | Status | Clouds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 AM | 2.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 19% |
| 3 AM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 34% |
| 4 AM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 64% |
| 5 AM | 3.7 | 6 of 100 | Too light | 48% |
| 6 AM | 4.7 | 0 of 100 | Too light | 22% |
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?
No night in the 27-day NOAA outlook reaches Adelaide's Kp 6.6; storms can still arrive at short notice.
~8 aurora nights per year
Dark nights when Kp reached 6.6, average of the last three years (GFZ Potsdam). Clouds not counted.
Average nights per month since 2015. Best months to visit: Jan, Mar, Apr, Sep.
Tonight's best window
If activity picks up, watch10 PM – 12 AM ACDT, look south, low on the horizon.
Fully dark from 9:28 PM to 4:29 AM ACDT.
Why this forecast?
Aurora Australis Viewing in Adelaide
Adelaide sees the aurora australis only during a strong storm: the forecast needs Kp 6.6. That makes it a rare event for the city, more likely in an active year than in a quiet one, so treat a high Kp alert on a clear night as the real trigger.
The city sits between the Gulf St Vincent coast and the Adelaide Hills, and the plains to the north are covered by suburbs that spread the glow widely. Your best horizon is to the south: the Fleurieu Peninsula stretches out with beaches and headlands that face the open water, and the glow of the city fades quickly as you drive past Aldinga Beach. Cape Jervis, at the tip of the peninsula, looks south across Backstairs Passage.
Dark skies are a real local asset. The River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve, northeast of the city, is officially recognized by DarkSky International, and its distance from big towns makes the stars unusually clear. The aurora season follows the dark half of the year from about April to September, with March and September equinoxes tending to be more active. Winter fronts bring cloud off the Southern Ocean, so check the sky as well as the Kp number.
For the whole picture, check the northern lights tonight overview or the live aurora map.
Dark-sky spots near Adelaide
Aldinga Beach
Long beach on the coast south of Adelaide. Open water to the west and south, with the city glow behind you to the north.
Cape Jervis
Tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula facing south over Backstairs Passage. Small settlement, dark skies, and a clear horizon toward the Southern Ocean.
River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve (Swan Reach)
International Dark Sky Reserve (DarkSky International)
Large inland dark-sky reserve in the Murray region of South Australia, with very low light pollution and wide open horizons. Plan for a long drive.
Other cities in Australia
Melbourne
Launceston
Hobart
Sydney
Brisbane
Perth
Plan your trip
Aurora Australis in Adelaide: Quick Guide
How often can you see the aurora australis in Adelaide?
What Kp do I need to see the aurora australis in Adelaide?
Can I see the aurora australis tonight in Adelaide?
Where should I look for the aurora australis in Adelaide?
What time is best tonight in Adelaide?
Free app for iPhone and Android
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.