Northern Lights Tonight in British Columbia
British Columbia is the hardest big Canadian province for aurora on the coast, easier in the interior and far north. Thresholds run from Kp 2.1 to 4.7. Tonight's peak Kp is 3.7 (active): best chance at Fort Nelson, moderate.
Best chance in British Columbia tonight
ModerateFort Nelson: moderate, peak Kp 3.7 against Kp 2.1 needed, clouds 83%.
Kp requirements by location
1Fort Nelson
| On the horizon | Kp 2.1 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 3.1 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 4.1 |
Kp now 2.0: 0.1 short of the horizon
2Fort St. John
| On the horizon | Kp 2.8 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 3.8 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 4.8 |
Kp now 2.0: 0.8 short of the horizon
3Prince George
| On the horizon | Kp 3.5 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 4.5 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 5.5 |
Kp now 2.0: 1.5 short of the horizon
| On the horizon | Kp 4.3 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 5.3 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 6.3 |
Kp now 2.0: 2.3 short of the horizon
| On the horizon | Kp 4.7 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 5.7 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 6.7 |
Kp now 2.0: 2.7 short of the horizon
Best dark sky viewing locations
Aldergrove Regional Park
Regional park in the Fraser Valley, listed by the Vancouver astronomy centre as an observing site. No dark-sky designation.
Paved roads from Langley and Abbotsford.
Mount Kobau
Mountain near Osoyoos used by amateur astronomers and a star party, once selected for a national observatory.
Mountain road from Osoyoos; check road conditions.
McDonald Park
Dark-Sky Preserve (RASC)
Small Fraser Valley park near Abbotsford used by local astronomers, a dark-sky preserve since 2000.
Road from Abbotsford; opens at night for Fraser Valley Astronomers Society events.
Aurora status by city
Fort Nelson
Fort St. John
Prince George
Vancouver
Kelowna
What time to look tonight in British Columbia
Best window tonight: 10 PM – 1 AM PDT at Fort Nelson. Look north-northeast, low on the horizon; the hours around local midnight are usually the most active.
Best viewing season in British Columbia
British Columbia splits in two. The coast has rainy, cloudy winters and mountains on the northern horizon, so around Vancouver you need a strong storm and a gap in the weather. The Okanagan and the interior are drier but have valley fog.
The northern part of the province, around Fort St. John and Fort Nelson, is much easier: the sky is dark and the thresholds are low. The long nights from autumn to early spring are best, and cold clear spells after a front are the nights to watch. Mountains and valleys shape the horizon, so choose a spot with a clear view north.
Peak aurora months
At Fort Nelson, Kp most often reaches the threshold on dark nights in March, April, September and October.
GFZ Potsdam Kp since 2015; clouds not counted.
British Columbia northern lights FAQ
Can you see the northern lights in British Columbia?
Can I see the northern lights in British Columbia tonight?
Where are the darkest skies in British Columbia?
What Kp do I need to see the northern lights in British Columbia?
Free app for iPhone and Android
Track aurora across British Columbia
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.