Right now · Aurora

Will you see the aurora tonight — clouds included

Solar wind from a satellite for the next hour, Kp in three-hour steps for three days and a 27-day outlook. Pick a place — the map tells you which Kp your spot needs and takes clouds into account.

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In short

Aurora on CAMPLY is a page and a map layer with three forecast horizons: solar wind from a satellite for the next hour, the Kp index in three-hour steps for three days and a 27-day outlook. CAMPLY compares Kp with what your latitude needs and adds cloud cover from its own weather forecast — that is how the answer “will I see it tonight” comes out.

Solar wind every 2 minutes, Kp every 5
Coverage: northern and southern lights, the whole globe

What's inside

Three horizons: now, hours, days

Now

Solar wind from the satellite at L1 — it reaches Earth about 40 minutes later. The most honest answer to “should I go outside”.

Hours

Kp in three-hour steps three days ahead and a latitude table: which Kp is needed for the aurora to reach your camp.

Days

A 27-day outlook — one rotation of the Sun. To pick a weekend for a trip north in advance.

Will I see it

Kp against what your latitude needs, plus cloud cover from the weather forecast and darkness: one answer on whether to go out tonight.

How to use it

How to know whether there will be aurora tonight

Aurora is a map layer and a chip on the weather plate. Cloud cover comes from the same forecast as rain.

1
Turn on the Aurora layer
The auroral oval lands on the map; in the centre of the screen — “Kp N needed”.
2
Check “Will I see it”
Kp is compared with what your latitude needs, with clouds from the forecast on top.
3
Pick a spot without light pollution
The Dark Sky layer shows where to drive from the city so the lights don't get in the way.

~40 min
lead time from the solar wind: 3 days
Kp in three-hour steps: 27 days
outlook for one solar rotation: Whole globe
northern and southern lights

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the aurora forecast

Which Kp do I need to see the aurora?

It depends on latitude. The map says “Kp N needed” for the centre of the screen: Tromsø is usually fine with Kp 2, Edinburgh needs about Kp 5. The latitude table is on this page under “Hours”.

How accurate is the next-hour forecast?

It follows the solar wind measured by the satellite at L1. The wind reaches Earth in about 40 minutes, which makes this the most reliable forecast horizon.

What is the 27-day outlook?

One rotation of the Sun: the expected Kp for each day — handy for choosing a weekend for a trip north.

Are clouds and light pollution taken into account?

Yes. “Will I see it” takes cloud cover from the CAMPLY weather forecast, and the Dark Sky layer shows light pollution on the Bortle scale so you can drive away from the city.

Where to watch the northern lights and geomagnetic storms today

Northern lights in Tromsø Aurora in Lofoten Aurora in Iceland Northern lights in Scotland Aurora in Lapland Northern lights in Norway Aurora in Alaska Geomagnetic storms today

WeatherCloud cover and rain, hour by hour Night sky tonightConstellations, planets, ISS and light pollution Community placesWhere to park for the night under the open sky