Northern Lights Tonight in Edinburgh, Scotland
Tonight in Edinburgh: aurora is possible but faint, likely only on a phone camera. Kp peaks at 4.7 against a local threshold of Kp 5.0; clouds 63%. Best window: 12 AM – 2 AM GMT.
Visibility now
LowKp 2.0 now (quiet); this spot needs Kp 5.0+.
Kp: NOAA SWPC · Oval: NOAA OVATION · Clouds: Open-Meteo · Updated every 15 minutes.
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Edinburgh aurora forecast
| GMT | Kp | Chance | Status | Clouds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 PM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 29% |
| 7 PM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 30% |
| 8 PM | 4.7 | 30 of 100 | Low | 9% |
| 9 PM | 4.7 | 30 of 100 | Low | 38% |
| 10 PM | 4.7 | 30 of 100 | Low | 82% |
| 11 PM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 60% |
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 Edinburgh's Kp 5.0 is Nov 17.
~36 aurora nights per year
Dark nights when Kp reached 5.0, average of the last three years (GFZ Potsdam). Clouds not counted.
Average nights per month since 2015. Best months to visit: Sep.
Tonight's best window
Best time tonight:12 AM – 2 AM GMT, look north-northwest, low on the horizon.
Fully dark from 6:25 PM to 5:28 AM GMT.
Why this forecast?
Aurora Borealis Viewing in Edinburgh
Edinburgh has one of the better odds among UK capitals, with a Kp threshold of 5.0. The city looks north across the Firth of Forth, and on a good storm night the aurora shows as a low glow over the water toward Fife, even from the waterfront.
That northern view is the reason to head to the coast instead of the Old Town. Cramond, on the northwest edge, has a foreshore and promenade that look straight across the Forth with little light spill from the north. Along the shore, Portobello and Newhaven face the same way but pick up more glare from the port and the city behind you. Calton Hill and Arthur's Seat give height, though both sit inside the light dome and the north is blocked by the New Town skyline from some spots.
Inland, the Pentland Hills at Threipmuir and Harlaw give darker ground on the southwest side, but the northern horizon is the city. If you can leave Edinburgh, Northumberland's dark sky park and the Cairngorms are both a longer drive but far darker. Haar and low cloud off the North Sea are common, so look at the cloud map before committing to the coast.
For the whole picture, check the northern lights tonight overview or the live aurora map.
Dark-sky spots near Edinburgh
Cramond foreshore
Foreshore and promenade on the Firth of Forth. A wide view north over the water toward Fife, away from the main city glare.
Threipmuir Reservoir, Pentland Hills
Reservoir in the Pentland Hills Regional Park, southwest of the city. Darker ground than the city edge, with open hill horizons.
Kielder Observatory, Northumberland
Northumberland International Dark Sky Park (DarkSky International), Gold Tier
Observatory on Black Fell above Kielder Water, inside Europe's largest protected dark sky area. A long day trip south from Edinburgh.
Other cities in the UK
Glasgow
Aberdeen
Inverness
Belfast
London
Plan your trip
Northern Lights in Edinburgh: Quick Guide
How often can you see the northern lights in Edinburgh?
What Kp do I need to see the northern lights in Edinburgh?
Can I see the northern lights tonight in Edinburgh?
Where should I look for the northern lights in Edinburgh?
What time is best tonight in Edinburgh?
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.