Aurora Australis Tonight in Brisbane, Queensland
Tonight in Brisbane: aurora is unlikely. Kp peaks at 3.7, below the local Kp 8.8 threshold; clouds 81%.
Visibility now
UnlikelyKp 2.0 now (quiet); this spot needs Kp 8.8+.
Kp: NOAA SWPC · Oval: NOAA OVATION · Clouds: Open-Meteo · Updated every 15 minutes.
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Brisbane aurora forecast
| AEST | Kp | Chance | Status | Clouds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 AM | 2.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 93% |
| 2 AM | 2.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 88% |
| 3 AM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 88% |
| 4 AM | 3.7 | 0 of 100 | Too light | 38% |
| 5 AM | 3.7 | 0 of 100 | Too light | 74% |
| 6 AM | 4.7 | 0 of 100 | Too light | 94% |
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 Brisbane's Kp 8.8; storms can still arrive at short notice.
Fewer than one aurora night a year
Dark nights when Kp reached 8.8, average of the last three years (GFZ Potsdam). Clouds not counted.
Average nights per month since 2015. Best months to visit: May.
Tonight's best window
If activity picks up, watch10 PM – 12 AM AEST, look south, low on the horizon.
Fully dark from 7:37 PM to 3:25 AM AEST.
Why this forecast?
Aurora Australis Viewing in Brisbane
Brisbane is among the hardest cities on this site for the aurora australis. The forecast needs Kp 8.8, a level reached only in the most extreme storms, so most people here will never see it. If a historic storm is forecast, the odds are real but still depend on a clear dark sky to the south.
The geography does not help. Brisbane sits in the subtropics, far from the south pole, and the built-up strip running south through Logan to the Gold Coast throws light across the southern sky. Even in an extreme storm, the aurora is likely to sit very low, a faint red band you will mostly pick up with a camera.
Go inland and south. The Scenic Rim, with Tamborine Mountain and the Main Range around Cunninghams Gap, gives dark, elevated spots where the glow of the coast sits well behind you. Winter is the dry and clearer season, from about May to September, so that is also the best time for an unusual storm to line up with a clear sky. For everyday viewing, the best use of this page is to know when to stay home and when, rarely, to drive.
For the whole picture, check the northern lights tonight overview or the live aurora map.
Dark-sky spots near Brisbane
Tamborine Mountain
Plateau in the Scenic Rim south of Brisbane with lookouts over the Gold Coast hinterland. Elevated, but the coastal glow lies to the east.
Cunninghams Gap (Main Range National Park)
Mountain pass on the Great Dividing Range inland from Brisbane. Farther from city light, with a darker southern sky.
Other cities in Australia
Sydney
Melbourne
Adelaide
Launceston
Hobart
Perth
Plan your trip
Aurora Australis in Brisbane: Quick Guide
How often can you see the aurora australis in Brisbane?
What Kp do I need to see the aurora australis in Brisbane?
Can I see the aurora australis tonight in Brisbane?
Where should I look for the aurora australis in Brisbane?
What time is best tonight in Brisbane?
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.