Aurora Australis Tonight in Hobart, Tasmania
Tonight in Hobart: aurora is unlikely. Kp peaks at 3.7, below the local Kp 4.8 threshold; clouds 6%. Next possible window: Nov 17.
Visibility now
UnlikelyKp 2.0 now (quiet); this spot needs Kp 4.8+.
Kp: NOAA SWPC · Oval: NOAA OVATION · Clouds: Open-Meteo · Updated every 15 minutes.
Get a 72-hour aurora forecast and free alerts for Hobart
Hobart aurora forecast
| AEDT | Kp | Chance | Status | Clouds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 AM | 2.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 3% |
| 3 AM | 2.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 1% |
| 4 AM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 0% |
| 5 AM | 3.7 | 0 of 100 | Too light | 0% |
| 6 AM | 3.7 | 0 of 100 | Too light | 7% |
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 Hobart's Kp 4.8 is Nov 17.
~34 aurora nights per year
Dark nights when Kp reached 4.8, average of the last three years (GFZ Potsdam). Clouds not counted.
Average nights per month since 2015. Best months to visit: Mar, Aug, Sep, Oct.
Tonight's best window
If activity picks up, watch10 PM – 12 AM AEDT, look south, low on the horizon.
Fully dark from 9:59 PM to 3:48 AM AEDT.
Why this forecast?
Aurora Australis Viewing in Hobart
Hobart is where many Australians see the aurora australis for the first time. Tasmania sits far enough south that a moderate storm can light the southern sky, and the forecast here needs Kp 4.8. That is still a storm, but it is reachable in a way it is not for Sydney or Brisbane.
The city is small and the southern horizon is close. Look south from the Derwent estuary and nothing blocks the view: the city sits on the water, and kunanyi / Mount Wellington rises behind it to the west. Aurora here is usually a glow of pink, red or green low over the water, sometimes with pillars that rise when the storm is strong.
Winter nights are long, and the equinox months are often more active, so March to September is the season to watch, with June and July the darkest. Cloud and rain roll in from the Southern Ocean, so a dry clear evening is rarer than the forecast suggests. The summit of kunanyi is cold and windy and the road can close in snow, so check conditions before you go. Locals head down the South Arm Peninsula or across to Bruny Island for dark coast.
For the whole picture, check the northern lights tonight overview or the live aurora map.
Dark-sky spots near Hobart
kunanyi / Mount Wellington summit
The peak above Hobart gives a high southern view over the estuary and sea. Cold, exposed and can be closed by snow, so check the road first.
Opossum Bay (South Arm Peninsula)
Quiet beach settlement at the end of the peninsula, facing south over Storm Bay. Open water to the horizon and little light pollution to the south.
Cape Bruny Lighthouse (Bruny Island)
Lighthouse at the southern end of Bruny Island, reached by ferry, with dark coast and open Southern Ocean horizon to the south.
Other cities in Australia
Launceston
Melbourne
Sydney
Adelaide
Brisbane
Perth
Plan your trip
Aurora Australis in Hobart: Quick Guide
How often can you see the aurora australis in Hobart?
What Kp do I need to see the aurora australis in Hobart?
Can I see the aurora australis tonight in Hobart?
Where should I look for the aurora australis in Hobart?
What time is best tonight in Hobart?
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.