27 day aurora forecast iceland

The map of Iceland shows forecast of cloud cover. Green areas are cloudy and white areas clear skies.

Below are some of the most commonly-asked questions by visitors to Iceland regarding aurora-watching. The answers are simply intended to provide practical advice based on my own personal experiences of aurora-watching in Iceland. Please click on one of the questions below to find the relevant information. If you have a question that is not answered here then please consider emailing me. Then I can add your question to the list to help future visitors maximise their chances of seeing the aurora. Back to top of page Q1. What is the best time of year to see the aurora in Iceland?

27 day aurora forecast iceland

The Icelandic Met Office measures solar activity. Combined with the Cloud Forecast, it will give you clues on where the Northern Lights are likely to be seen. Please note that the forecast changes frequently and is most reliable at about 6 pm of the current day. Focus on the lower and middle clouds, and look for white spots or lighter shades on the map. The 9-point scale on the right side of the page is a simple way to judge your chances of seeing something. This is the most usual forecast. Go out! The magnetic observatory Leirvogur measures the magnetic disturbances above Iceland. When the graphs start moving, solar winds are rattling the magnetic field of the Earth which is usually followed by outbursts of auroral activity. Click on the picture to see the real-time-record. By clicking on the graphic below, you find the daily maximum expected global geomagnetic conditions Kp for the coming 27 days. This is the fastest way to quickly find out what kind of geomagnetic conditions are to be expected over the next 27 days.

Best time Best places Best settings There is perhaps nothing more magical than witnessing the beauty of a Northern Lights display, and it has been a lifelong dream of many.

The Northern Lights season runs from 1st September, through winter, until 15th April , typically. The map is updated daily and gives you an indication of Northern Lights viewing. The white areas are where you need to head for. On the map you can see areas of white, light green and dark green. The white colour in the forecast means no clouds, so clear sky. This is ideal as you need to have a clear sky to see the Northern Lights. The light green means partly cloudy and dark green means very cloudy so a low chance for sightings as the visibility is low.

The Icelandic Met Office measures solar activity. Combined with the Cloud Forecast, it will give you clues on where the Northern Lights are likely to be seen. Please note that the forecast changes frequently and is most reliable at about 6 pm of the current day. Focus on the lower and middle clouds, and look for white spots or lighter shades on the map. The 9-point scale on the right side of the page is a simple way to judge your chances of seeing something. This is the most usual forecast. Go out! The magnetic observatory Leirvogur measures the magnetic disturbances above Iceland. When the graphs start moving, solar winds are rattling the magnetic field of the Earth which is usually followed by outbursts of auroral activity. Click on the picture to see the real-time-record.

27 day aurora forecast iceland

Northern lights forecast for Iceland. Check the live aurora forecast and weather conditions before your Northern Lights tour in Iceland. Learn more about the Northern Lights forecast and why you should keep in mind that even when the Kp-index indicates moderate to high activity, there is no guarantee that you will witness the Northern Lights. As a natural phenomenon, nature offers no assurances! It's also worth remembering that the lights have been spotted even when the Kp-index was at 0. Check now and book your tour. In the past, it was believed that gods and magical beings were responsible for creating the fabled Northern Lights, which would make it challenging to predict the chances of seeing them. In more modern times, science has revealed the optimal aurora conditions. Today, experts can predict where and when the lights will appear — to some degree. Arctic Adventures guides keep track of the weather, solar flares, and cloud cover to make the Northern Lights tours worthwhile and eventful for sightseers.

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Together with the cloud cover forecast, this map helps to detect the best time to see the Northern Lights in Iceland. Consequently, a negative southerly Bz value such as -1 nT means a much higher chance of aurora than a northerly one, and the more negative the value the greater the potential for aurora. The first image, from the 19 September , was taken the day before a new moon. As a result of these limitations, the Kp values and ovation model forecasts provided by many aurora apps are not a reliable method of ascertaining real-time aurora activity. Whether each of these is desirable is a matter of personal taste! Hit the road! The sky is clear, why can't I see anything? Light green color indicates a lower chance of auroral activity, while the spots in yellow, orange and red mean that chances of seeing the Northern Lights are very high. Most aurora phone apps use Kp value, but what does it mean and how should I use it? Can I expect to see that with my eyes? For this reason, if you are travelling to Iceland specifically to see the aurora then it is sensible to visit for at least one week. However, auroras of greater intensity can be seen in colour by the human eye. Check the live aurora forecast and weather conditions before your Northern Lights tour in Iceland.

Learning how to read the Northern Lights forecast and be patient is crucial if you want to increase your chances of seeing this elusive phenomenon. No matter how good you are at predicting the Northern Lights, forecasts can change in minutes! Before discussing how to predict the Northern Lights, I recommend that you take a look at our articles on the best time to see Northern Lights and the best places to see Northern Lights.

Chasing the northern lights often resembles playing a card game. There are some nights where activity is simply very low, and the aurora is located far to the north of Iceland. I strongly recommend using this free app for your aurora-chasing in Iceland, and by reporting your own observations on it then you will help to improve it for other people too. I highly recommend that you familiarise yourself with this magnetometer display and monitor it while you are in Iceland. I would not recommend going on a boat tour if the main aim of your trip is photography. If you wish to know more about why relying on Kp-based predictions is not recommended for real-time aurora-chasing then please check out the blog Why Kp is a poor indicator for auroral alerts. What about hiring a car and looking by myself? Ideally you will need a DSLR camera and the widest and fastest lens that you can afford. Naked eye views of auroras at those times will also require reasonably strong activity in order to beat the twilight skies. It is the global geomagnetic storm index, and ranges from 0 very little geomagnetic activity to 9 extreme geomagnetic storming. This is the most common forecast. For this reason, if you are travelling to Iceland specifically to see the aurora then it is sensible to visit for at least one week.