Aurora Australis Tonight in Melbourne, Victoria
Tonight in Melbourne: aurora is unlikely. Kp peaks at 3.7, below the local Kp 6.0 threshold; clouds 25%.
Visibility now
UnlikelyKp 2.0 now (quiet); this spot needs Kp 6.0+.
Kp: NOAA SWPC · Oval: NOAA OVATION · Clouds: Open-Meteo · Updated every 15 minutes.
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Melbourne aurora forecast
| AEDT | Kp | Chance | Status | Clouds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 AM | 2.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 41% |
| 3 AM | 2.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 69% |
| 4 AM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 9% |
| 5 AM | 3.7 | 9 of 100 | Too light | 0% |
| 6 AM | 3.7 | 0 of 100 | Too light | 0% |
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?
No night in the 27-day NOAA outlook reaches Melbourne's Kp 6.0; storms can still arrive at short notice.
~15 aurora nights per year
Dark nights when Kp reached 6.0, average of the last three years (GFZ Potsdam). Clouds not counted.
Average nights per month since 2015. Best months to visit: May, Jun, Sep, Oct.
Tonight's best window
If activity picks up, watch10 PM – 12 AM AEDT, look south, low on the horizon.
Fully dark from 9:44 PM to 4:22 AM AEDT.
Why this forecast?
Aurora Australis Viewing in Melbourne
Melbourne is the best-placed of the large mainland Australian cities for the aurora australis, though it still needs a real storm: the forecast has to reach Kp 6.0. That is well above everyday activity, so most nights are not worth the drive, and a strong storm warning on a clear evening is.
Geography works in your favor here. Port Phillip Bay and Bass Strait lie to the south, so a short drive puts open water between you and the city lights. The glow from the CBD and the suburbs that ring the bay fills the north and east, but the Mornington Peninsula and the Bellarine Peninsula both point toward the dark horizon you want. Aurora shows up as a low pink or red glow above the southern skyline, often easier to catch on a long camera exposure than with your eyes.
Winter and the equinox months are the realistic season, with the long nights from about May to August and extra activity around March and September. Melbourne weather changes fast, and cold fronts from the Southern Ocean bring cloud and showers, so check the sky for gaps behind the front. Locals who chase it tend to head to Cape Schanck or Point Lonsdale, where the cliffs and the lighthouse area look straight south over the strait.
For the whole picture, check the northern lights tonight overview or the live aurora map.
Dark-sky spots near Melbourne
Point Lonsdale
Town and lighthouse at the western entrance to Port Phillip, facing south over Bass Strait. Unobstructed water horizon, with some glow from nearby towns to the north.
Cape Schanck
Rugged headland on the southern tip of the Mornington Peninsula with the lighthouse and open Bass Strait horizon to the south, darker than the bay side.
Wilsons Promontory
Mainland Australia's southernmost point, with dark coastal lookouts and beaches facing south. A long drive from Melbourne, best as an overnight trip.
Other cities in Australia
Launceston
Hobart
Adelaide
Sydney
Brisbane
Perth
Plan your trip
Aurora Australis in Melbourne: Quick Guide
How often can you see the aurora australis in Melbourne?
What Kp do I need to see the aurora australis in Melbourne?
Can I see the aurora australis tonight in Melbourne?
Where should I look for the aurora australis in Melbourne?
What time is best tonight in Melbourne?
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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.