Northern lights tonight in Alaska: clouded out
Activity is high enough, but clouds will likely block it. Kp forecast tonight up to 1.7; the northernmost city here needs 0.4.
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| City | Tonight | Kp needed | Clouds | Dark | Moon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks, Alaska | Clouded out | 0.4 | 92 % | 7:28 PM–7:48 AM | 33 % |
| Anchorage, Alaska | Unlikely | 2.2 | 85 % | 7:47 PM–7:46 AM | 33 % |
| Juneau, Alaska | Unlikely | 2.4 | 99 % | 6:52 PM–6:37 AM | 33 % |
Where to look in Alaska
This far north the aurora is common on clear dark nights even when activity is low; during storms it fills the sky overhead. The best hours are usually around local midnight; it is too light from late spring to late summer.
A bright moon and haze both wash out a faint display; check the hourly cloud cover above and look again later in the evening, when NOAA's short-term OVATION model gives a better picture of the next hour.
Northern lights in Alaska
Can I see the northern lights in Alaska tonight?
Clouded out: activity is high enough, but clouds will likely block it. Fairbanks needs about Kp 0.4; the forecast for its dark hours tonight is up to Kp 1.7, with 92 % cloud cover on average.
What Kp is needed to see the aurora in Alaska?
Fairbanks: about Kp 0.4 (geomagnetic latitude 65.7°); Anchorage: about Kp 2.2 (geomagnetic latitude 61.9°); Juneau: about Kp 2.4 (geomagnetic latitude 61.6°).
What is the best time to see the aurora?
Usually between about 10 PM and 2 AM local time, when your part of the Earth faces the night-side of the auroral oval – but during a strong storm it can appear as soon as it is dark. Give your eyes 15–20 minutes away from screens and lights.
Why can my phone see the aurora when I can't?
A phone camera's long exposure collects far more light than the eye and sees color better in the dark. At lower latitudes a faint aurora often looks grey or white to the eye and green or pink on a 3-second phone shot – try night mode pointed north.
How accurate is the forecast?
Kp forecasts a day or more ahead come from observations of the Sun and are uncertain by a step or two; the timing of a storm's arrival can be off by many hours. The OVATION model is good for the next 30–90 minutes. Check the page again in the evening.
Nearby
Sources: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (planetary Kp index and 3-day forecast, OVATION aurora model, G-scale outlook), Open-Meteo hourly cloud cover; sun and moon computed by 77.today. The aurora is notoriously hard to forecast beyond an hour or two – treat this as a guide.