November 9, 2026 northern lights forecast: Kp 4.7 (G1) expected — in range of Vancouver, Aberdeen. See the storm details

Northern Lights in Sweden Tonight: Aurora Forecast & Viewing Guide

Sweden's best aurora is in Swedish Lapland, where the threshold falls to Kp 1.4; Stockholm needs Kp 4.2 and a dark spot. Plan around the cloud: the mountains near Abisko often give clearer sky than the rest of the north.

Places covered
5
Avg magnetic latitude
62.3°
Lowest Kp needed
1.4
Updated

Best chance in Sweden tonight

High

Östersund: high, peak Kp 4.7, clouds 22%, best 10 PM – 12 AM CET.
3 of 5 locations have a chance tonight.

Tonight's aurora map of Sweden

Live aurora map
Aurora map of Sweden for November 9, 2026: the OVATION aurora oval, the line where tonight's Kp reaches the horizon, and 5 places colored by tonight's chance.
Green: OVATION aurora probability. Dashed line: where tonight's peak Kp (4.7) reaches the horizon. Dots: tonight's status. Updated 15:46 UTC.

Which city to fly to

Kiruna is the main gateway to Swedish Lapland. It has an airport with flights from Stockholm, sits well within the auroral oval, and has the roads and railway to reach darker ground. From Kiruna, the railway to Abisko is the simplest way to reach the national park without a car. Abisko itself is a small settlement with limited lodging, so book ahead.

Luleå, on the Gulf of Bothnia, is a larger city with an airport and a bit more distance from the oval, which means a slightly higher threshold; it works if you want a city base with the coast in reach. Stockholm is the national gateway, with long-haul flights, but its light dome and southern latitude make it a connection point, not an aurora base. Östersund in the middle of the country sees the aurora only on strong storms.

Mountains, coast and cloud

Inland and mountain areas are drier than the Bothnian coast. Abisko National Park lies in a rain shadow of the Norwegian mountains, and that tends to give more clear nights than nearby places. If the sky is cloudy at your base, check the forecast and drive toward the west.

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.

LIVE MAP

The oval and the clouds over your spot, refreshed through the night.

WAKE UP

A push alert before the aurora reaches your sky.

BEST HOUR

The one hour tonight worth setting an alarm for.

Aurora destinations in Sweden

Abisko

Forecast point
Moderate
Needs Kp 1.4 Peak Kp 4.7 Clouds 85% 12 AM – 2 AM CET

Kiruna

Forecast point
Moderate
Needs Kp 1.5 Peak Kp 4.7 Clouds 77% 3 AM – 5 AM CET

Luleå

Forecast point
Unlikely
Needs Kp 2.3 Peak Kp 4.7 Clouds 99%

Östersund

Forecast point
High
Needs Kp 3.1 Peak Kp 4.7 Clouds 22% 10 PM – 12 AM CET

Stockholm

Forecast point
Unlikely
Needs Kp 4.2 Peak Kp 4.7 Clouds 99%

What time to look tonight in Sweden

Sweden

10 PM – 12 AM CET

Östersund: 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 Sweden

The season runs from late August or September to early April. Around midsummer the north has no real darkness at all, so the aurora is out of reach from May to July. Winter nights are long, but February and March tend to combine strong activity with milder cold and longer days.

Northern Sweden is the place. Abisko, on the shore of Lake Torneträsk beside the Norwegian border, is a well-known aurora base because the mountains to the west often keep the sky clearer there than on the coast. Kiruna, to the east, is Sweden's northernmost city and sits well within the oval. Luleå, on the Gulf of Bothnia, needs a bit more storm, Östersund in Jämtland more still, and Stockholm only a strong one.

Weather is the main variable. Inland Lapland gets cold, clear nights between cloud systems, and the coast can be cloudy while the mountains are open. Give yourself several nights and a rental car or a tour for flexibility.

Aurora nights by month

Average dark nights per month when Kp reached the local threshold, across 5 places, since 2015.

Most active months: Feb, Mar, Sep, Oct.

Plan your Sweden aurora trip

How to see the aurora Kp index today Live aurora map

Sweden Aurora FAQ

When is the best time to see the northern lights in Sweden?
From September to early April in the north. Late September to October and February to March often combine darkness with better weather, while midwinter has the longest nights and the coldest conditions. From May to July the northern sun barely sets, so there is no usable darkness.
Where in Sweden can I see the northern lights?
Swedish Lapland: Abisko and Kiruna are the main bases and sit well inside the auroral oval. Luleå and the Bothnian coast work on moderate storms, while Östersund and Stockholm need stronger ones. Mountains near Abisko often give clearer sky than the coast, so many visitors head there.
How many nights should I plan for the northern lights in Sweden?
Plan several nights, because cloud will cancel some, even at Abisko. A week in Lapland during the season gives a good chance of at least one clear and active night. In central and southern Sweden you need a strong storm and a clear sky at once, so treat any aurora as a bonus.
Can I see the northern lights from major cities in Sweden?
In Kiruna, yes, on many clear nights. In Luleå, on moderate storms from a dark edge of town. Stockholm only sees the aurora in strong storms, and city lights hide most of it, so go to a dark spot outside the city on a storm night. Östersund also needs a stronger storm.
What Kp do I need to see the northern lights in Sweden?
It depends on where you are: from Kp 1.4 at Abisko to Kp 4.2 at Stockholm. Each place shows its own threshold and tonight's Kp against it.
Can I see the northern lights in Sweden tonight?
3 places of 5 have a chance tonight; the best is Östersund (high). Tonight's peak Kp is 4.7 (minor storm), and the northern lights in Sweden needs Kp 1.4 to 4.2 depending on where you are.

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.