Northern Lights Tonight in Alberta
Alberta is one of the easiest places in Canada for aurora. Calgary needs a stronger storm than Edmonton, and the far north is easier still; thresholds run from Kp 2.2 to 3.8. Tonight's peak Kp is 3.7 (active): best chance at Fort McMurray, high.
Best chance in Alberta tonight
HighFort McMurray: high, peak Kp 3.7 against Kp 2.2 needed, clouds 8%.
Kp requirements by location
1Fort McMurray
| On the horizon | Kp 2.2 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 3.2 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 4.2 |
Kp now 2.0: 0.2 short of the horizon
2Grande Prairie
| On the horizon | Kp 3.0 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 4.0 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 5.0 |
Kp now 2.0: 1.0 short of the horizon
| On the horizon | Kp 3.2 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 4.2 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 5.2 |
Kp now 2.0: 1.2 short of the horizon
| On the horizon | Kp 3.8 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 4.8 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 5.8 |
Kp now 2.0: 1.8 short of the horizon
Best dark sky viewing locations
Elk Island National Park
Dark-Sky Preserve (RASC), Beaver Hills
National park east of Edmonton inside the Beaver Hills preserve, declared in 2006. Lakes and meadows give open sky.
Yellowhead Highway, then a paved park road.
Jasper National Park
Dark-Sky Preserve (RASC)
Rocky Mountain park designated in 2011. Lake shores such as Pyramid and Maligne give open foreground.
Highway 16 from Edmonton; plan an overnight stay.
Waterton Lakes National Park
International Dark Sky Park (DarkSky International)
Shared dark-sky park with Glacier in Montana, in the south-west corner of the province.
Paved highways from Pincher Creek and Cardston.
Wood Buffalo National Park
Dark-Sky Preserve (RASC)
Dark-sky preserve of 2013 on the Alberta and Northwest Territories border, one of the largest in the world.
Remote; park headquarters is in Fort Smith, NWT.
Aurora status by city
Fort McMurray
Grande Prairie
Edmonton
Calgary
What time to look tonight in Alberta
Best window tonight: 10 PM – 12 AM MDT at Fort McMurray. Look north-northeast, low on the horizon; the hours around local midnight are usually the most active.
Best viewing season in Alberta
Alberta combines high latitude with dry air. Winters are cold and the Prairie is often clear, and the further north you go, the easier it gets. Edmonton and Grande Prairie see the lights often. Calgary needs a stronger storm, and the Rockies bring cloud that can spill over the foothills.
The long nights from autumn to early spring are best, and chinook winds in the south can clear cloud quickly. Away from the cities, the north is flat and open.
Peak aurora months
At Fort McMurray, Kp most often reaches the threshold on dark nights in January, February, March and September.
GFZ Potsdam Kp since 2015; clouds not counted.
Alberta northern lights FAQ
Can you see the northern lights in Alberta?
Can I see the northern lights in Alberta tonight?
Where are the darkest skies in Alberta?
What Kp do I need to see the northern lights in Alberta?
Free app for iPhone and Android
Track aurora across Alberta
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.
Explore more
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.