Northern Lights in the UK Tonight
The UK sees the northern lights mostly from Scotland and the north coast of Northern Ireland, where the threshold runs from Kp 3.8 in the far north to Kp 6.2 in the south of England. Strong storms push the glow further south, but clouds decide most nights.
Best chance in the UK tonight
Moderate Aberdeen: moderate, peak Kp 4.7, clouds 69%, best 10 PM – 12 AM GMT.
6 of 10 locations have a chance tonight.
Tonight's aurora map of the UK
Live aurora map
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 oval and the clouds over your spot, refreshed through the night.
A push alert before the aurora reaches your sky.
The one hour tonight worth setting an alarm for.
Aurora destinations in the UK
Aberdeen aurora forecast
Edinburgh aurora forecast
Glasgow aurora forecast
Belfast aurora forecast
Inverness aurora forecast
London aurora forecast
Lerwick
Thurso
Portree
Kielder
Live aurora status: Aberdeen live forecast · Edinburgh live forecast · Glasgow live forecast
What time to look tonight in the UK
UK
10 PM – 12 AM GMT
Aberdeen: moderate
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 the UK
Autumn and winter are the season, with the best odds around the equinoxes in March and September to October, when geomagnetic activity tends to be higher. The sky is dark enough from roughly September to April. From late May to July the northern UK barely gets dark at all, and Shetland has no true night at midsummer.
The further north you go, the better the odds. Shetland, Orkney, the north coast of the Scottish mainland and the Hebrides see the aurora on moderate storms. The Highlands and the Scottish east coast need a stronger one, and the central belt cities see it only in bigger storms. Northern England, including Northumberland, catches the bigger events, and southern England needs the biggest of a solar cycle.
Weather is the limit. Atlantic fronts move fast, and a clear gap in the north is often brief. Dark sky parks such as Galloway, the Cairngorms and Northumberland give the darkest ground, but any beach or hill with an open north horizon and no street lights does the job. Check the cloud forecast, then drive toward clear sky.
Aurora nights by month
Average dark nights per month when Kp reached the local threshold, across 10 places, since 2015.
Most active months: Mar, Sep, Oct.
Can you see the northern lights in Scotland and Northern Ireland tonight?
Sometimes, and it depends on two things: the current Kp and the cloud. Scotland is the best bet, and the further north you are, the lower the storm you need. The north coast around Thurso and Dunnet Head, Shetland and the Western Isles are where the aurora shows most often, because the northern horizon is open sea. A glow low in the north on a moderate storm is typical there.
On the mainland you need a darker spot and more luck. Inverness and Aberdeen face the Moray Firth and the North Sea respectively and see activity on moderate storms from the coast. Edinburgh looks north over the Firth of Forth, and Glasgow is hemmed in by hills and its own light dome, so both need a bigger storm and a drive out of town.
Northern Ireland has the same story. Belfast is bright, but the north coast near Downhill and Portrush faces open sea, and the Sperrins around Davagh Forest are the darkest ground in the region. If the current Kp is at or above the threshold shown for the nearest forecast point on this page and the sky is clear, go now. If the sky is cloudy, look at the cloud map for a clear gap before you drive.
Plan your UK aurora trip
UK Aurora FAQ
When is the best time to see the northern lights in the UK?
Where in the UK can I see the northern lights?
How many nights should I plan for the northern lights in the UK?
Can I see the northern lights from major cities in the UK?
What Kp do I need to see the northern lights in the UK?
Can I see the northern lights in the UK tonight?
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.