Northern Lights Tonight in Reykjavik, Iceland

Reykjavik sees the aurora often, with a Kp threshold of 1.9. The city is small and dims quickly, so you can see the aurora from the waterfront on a good night, but clouds are the real problem. Iceland's weather changes fast, and a gap in the cloud over the capital can close within an hour.

The best nearby viewpoint is Grótta, on the tip of Seltjarnarnes at the western edge of the city. The lighthouse stands on a small tied island, and the north side looks across Faxaflói bay toward the Snæfellsnes peninsula with almost nothing in the way. Access over the causeway depends on the tide, so check it before you go. Öskjuhlíð hill and the area around Perlan give height but also pick up the city lights.

For darker sky, drive out of town. Þingvellir National Park, in the rift valley to the east, is dark and open. Reykjavik is south of the arctic, and in late May to July the nights never get dark, so the season for aurora runs from autumn to early spring. Look at the cloud map for a clear window, and drive toward it: southwest Iceland is often cloudy while the north and east are clear.