Northern Lights Tonight in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Tonight in Yellowknife: aurora is unlikely. Kp reaches 3.7, at or above the local Kp 1.0 threshold, but clouds cover about 91% of the sky. Next possible window: Nov 10.
Visibility now
UnlikelyKp 2.0 now (quiet); this spot needs Kp 1.0+.
Kp: NOAA SWPC · Oval: NOAA OVATION · Clouds: Open-Meteo · Updated every 15 minutes.
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Yellowknife aurora forecast
| MDT | Kp | Chance | Status | Clouds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 PM | 3.7 | 19 of 100 | Too light | 1% |
| 7 PM | 3.7 | 47 of 100 | Moderate | 16% |
| 8 PM | 3.7 | 67 of 100 | High | 38% |
| 9 PM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 100% |
| 10 PM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 100% |
| 11 PM | 2.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 100% |
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 Yellowknife's Kp 1.0 is Nov 10.
~253 aurora nights per year
Dark nights when Kp reached 1.0, average of the last three years (GFZ Potsdam). Clouds not counted.
Average nights per month since 2015. Best months to visit: Jan, Mar, Apr, Sep.
Tonight's best window
If activity picks up, watch2 AM – 4 AM MDT, look north-northeast and overhead.
Fully dark from 7:46 PM to 6:57 AM MDT.
Why this forecast?
Aurora Borealis Viewing in Yellowknife
Yellowknife is among the best places on Earth to see the aurora from a city, and the threshold of 1.0 says why: the city sits so close to the auroral oval that a quiet geomagnetic night often shows something. The question here is cloud, not Kp. The season runs from late August through early April, and clear nights are common in the dry months.
The city sits on the north shore of Great Slave Lake. Old Town, Frame Lake and Niven Lake all give open views over water or ice, and the city is small enough that the aurora shows from town on a good night. The glow is limited to the compact downtown grid, so even a modest step outside it improves the sky.
For a better view, drive the Ingraham Trail, Highway 4, east from town. Prelude Lake Territorial Park, along that road, is described by several guides as the most popular independent viewing spot. Park only in lots and pull-outs and wear high-visibility clothing, because trucks use the road in winter. Midwinter is very cold, so charge your phone and carry a warm layer for the car. Tour operators run guided trips from the city, and those save you the driving.
For the whole picture, check the northern lights tonight overview or the live aurora map.
Dark-sky spots near Yellowknife
Prelude Lake Territorial Park
Territorial park on the Ingraham Trail east of the city. Guides call it the most popular independent viewing spot, with open horizons over the lake.
Wood Buffalo National Park
Dark-Sky Preserve (RASC)
Large dark-sky preserve designated in 2013, straddling Alberta and the Northwest Territories. Far from Yellowknife; plan a multi-day trip.
Other cities in Canada
Edmonton
Whitehorse
Saskatoon
Calgary
Kelowna
Regina
Plan your trip
Northern Lights in Yellowknife: Quick Guide
How often can you see the northern lights in Yellowknife?
What Kp do I need to see the northern lights in Yellowknife?
Can I see the northern lights tonight in Yellowknife?
Where should I look for the northern lights in Yellowknife?
What time is best tonight in Yellowknife?
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 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.