Northern Lights in Greenland Tonight: Aurora Forecast & Viewing Guide
Greenland sits under or near the auroral oval almost everywhere, with a threshold from Kp 1.0 to Kp 1.0. Aurora is routine in the dark season; getting there and choosing a base is the main decision.
Best chance in Greenland tonight
High Tasiilaq: high, peak Kp 4.7, clouds 19%, best 10 PM – 12 AM WGT.
1 of 4 locations has a chance tonight.
Tonight's aurora map of Greenland
Live aurora map
Which city to fly to
Nuuk is the capital, with the largest range of accommodation and an airport that was rebuilt and expanded in 2024. It is a good base for a city stay with short trips to the fjord and the surrounding hills. Check current routes and schedules with the airline, since service from Europe and the other settlements depends on the season.
Kangerlussuaq is a former air base inland, historically Greenland's main international gateway. The interior climate is drier and clearer than the coast, which helps for aurora. Ilulissat, on the Ilulissat Icefjord, is in the far north and has its own airport. Tasiilaq on the east coast is a small town with fewer connections and the darkest surroundings.
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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 oval and the clouds over your spot, refreshed through the night.
A push alert before the aurora reaches your sky.
The one hour tonight worth setting an alarm for.
Aurora destinations in Greenland
Nuuk aurora forecast
Kangerlussuaq
Ilulissat
Tasiilaq
Live aurora status: Nuuk live forecast
What time to look tonight in Greenland
Nuuk
10 PM – 12 AM WGT
Tasiilaq: high
Best window of the best-placed location in each zone. Look north; the darker your horizon, the earlier you see it.
Aurora viewing guide for Greenland
The season runs from late August or September to early April. In the weeks around midsummer the sun barely sets, and there is no real darkness. Winter nights are long, and the weeks around the solstice bring the shortest days. The shoulder months of September and March are popular because days are manageable and the weather is milder.
Greenland is huge, and settlements are small and far apart, linked by air and sea rather than roads. Nuuk, the capital, sits at the mouth of a fjord on the west coast. Kangerlussuaq lies inland, Ilulissat sits far to the north on the west coast, and Tasiilaq is on the east coast.
Light pollution is low almost everywhere, so the limiting factor is cloud and fog. The coast catches weather off the Labrador Sea and the Greenland Sea; the interior around Kangerlussuaq is often drier and clearer. Check flight times and have a weather buffer on any trip.
Aurora nights by month
Average dark nights per month when Kp reached the local threshold, across 4 places, since 2015.
Most active months: Jan, Mar, Sep, Oct.
Plan your Greenland aurora trip
Greenland Aurora FAQ
When is the best time to see the northern lights in Greenland?
Where in Greenland can I see the northern lights?
How many nights should I plan for the northern lights in Greenland?
Can I see the northern lights from major cities in Greenland?
What Kp do I need to see the northern lights in Greenland?
Can I see the northern lights in Greenland tonight?
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.