Northern Lights forecast
Live aurora activity and cloud cover across Iceland. Updated every time you open this page.
Aurora activity
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Where is it clearest?
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Please note: the Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon and can never be guaranteed. This page shows forecasts for information only. Whether a tour runs, and what happens if conditions are poor, is decided by the operator named on the tour page.
How to read this page
The Kp index (0–9)
Kp measures how disturbed Earth's magnetic field is. Iceland sits close to the aurora oval, so you can often see the lights at Kp 1–2 when the sky is clear and dark. Kp 3–4 usually means stronger, more active displays, and Kp 5 or higher is a geomagnetic storm.
Clouds matter more than Kp
The aurora happens high above the clouds. If the sky is overcast you will not see it, however high the Kp. That is why we show cloud cover for several regions: Iceland's weather often differs a lot between the south, north and east, and good guides drive to the clearest area.
Dark, clear and patient
- The season runs from about September to April. In summer the nights are too bright.
- Get away from town lights; the best displays are often between 21:00 and 01:00, but they can appear at any time of the night.
- Dress warmly. Standing still outside in winter is much colder than you expect.
Find a Northern Lights tour Read the full guide
Other official forecasts
- Icelandic Met Office: aurora and cloud forecast
- NOAA: 30-minute aurora forecast
- SafeTravel.is: road and weather conditions
Data: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (Kp), and the Norwegian Meteorological Institute, MET Norway (weather, CC BY 4.0).