Northern Lights Tonight in Inverness, Scotland
Tonight in Inverness: aurora is unlikely. Kp reaches 4.7, at or above the local Kp 4.5 threshold, but clouds cover about 94% of the sky. Next possible window: Nov 17.
Visibility now
UnlikelyKp 2.0 now (quiet); this spot needs Kp 4.5+.
Kp: NOAA SWPC · Oval: NOAA OVATION · Clouds: Open-Meteo · Updated every 15 minutes.
Get a 72-hour aurora forecast and free alerts for Inverness
Inverness aurora forecast
| GMT | Kp | Chance | Status | Clouds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 PM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 97% |
| 7 PM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 98% |
| 8 PM | 4.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 98% |
| 9 PM | 4.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 93% |
| 10 PM | 4.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 94% |
| 11 PM | 3.7 | 30 of 100 | Low | 87% |
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 Inverness's Kp 4.5 is Nov 17.
~46 aurora nights per year
Dark nights when Kp reached 4.5, average of the last three years (GFZ Potsdam). Clouds not counted.
Average nights per month since 2015. Best months to visit: Mar, Sep, Oct.
Tonight's best window
If activity picks up, watch10 PM – 12 AM GMT, look north-northwest, low on the horizon.
Fully dark from 6:28 PM to 5:33 AM GMT.
Why this forecast?
Aurora Borealis Viewing in Inverness
Inverness is among the best-placed cities in the UK for the aurora, with a Kp threshold of 4.5. It sits at the head of the Moray Firth, looking north across water, and the Highlands begin right outside the ring road. A moderate storm can be enough for a visible glow, and a strong one reaches well up the sky.
The city is small, so darkness is close. The Black Isle is the obvious first stop: Chanonry Point, near Fortrose, is a long gravel spit running into the firth with sea on three sides. The Beauly Firth shore and the open farmland above North Kessock work as shorter trips. On the shore of the Moray Firth the north horizon is water, which is exactly what you want.
If you want the darkest sky within a day trip, Tomintoul and Glenlivet in the Cairngorms is a gold tier dark sky park to the southeast, with moorland on every side. The weather is the same Highland mix as elsewhere: showers blow through, and the firth can clear when the glens are cloudy. Watch the cloud forecast an hour before you leave.
For the whole picture, check the northern lights tonight overview or the live aurora map.
Dark-sky spots near Inverness
Chanonry Point, Black Isle
Spit of land running into the Moray Firth between Fortrose and Rosemarkie. Open water to the north and east.
Tomintoul and Glenlivet, Cairngorms
International Dark Sky Park (DarkSky International), Gold Tier
Highland moor and glen inside the Cairngorms National Park. Often described as the darkest sky in the UK.
Other cities in the UK
Aberdeen
Glasgow
Edinburgh
Belfast
London
Plan your trip
Northern Lights in Inverness: Quick Guide
How often can you see the northern lights in Inverness?
What Kp do I need to see the northern lights in Inverness?
Can I see the northern lights tonight in Inverness?
Where should I look for the northern lights in Inverness?
What time is best tonight in Inverness?
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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 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.