Northern Lights Forecast Iceland
Live aurora forecast, cloud cover and best viewing times tonight
Northern lights from Landhotel
Landhotel is situated in the breathtaking Icelandic countryside, which serves as an outstanding destination for witnessing the Northern Lights.
It provides you an immersive and pristine viewing experience due to surrounding black skies and no light pollution.
In contrast to the more populated areas like the neighbour towns Hella and Hvolsvöllur, Landhotel enjoys a secluded location with no light pollution, ensuring clear and uninterrupted views of the night sky.
This unique setting makes it one of the premier places in South Iceland for experiencing the Aurora Borealis in all its splendor.
Live feeds from landhotel.com - Visibility depends on weather and daylight.
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Low geomagnetic activity tonight
UnlikelySkies may be clear, but geomagnetic activity (Kp) is low tonight. Auroras are unlikely without a boost.
Conditions are estimated from cloud cover, geomagnetic activity and darkness — not a guarantee of a sighting.
The page reloads live data automatically every 5 minutes.
Geomagnetic activity (KP)
Forecasted KP for the main night window.
“NOAA %” is the official US OVATION model: the chance of aurora overhead at that location in the next hour, ignoring cloud. ColdCircle odds combine Kp, cloud cover and moonlight.
Hour by hour tonight
SouthOdds of seeing aurora each hour 20:00–04:00 (Kp × cloud × moon).
Best window: 00:00 — up to 7%
Conditions outside
Figures are for the best hour (00:00).
A full moon dims faint aurora noticeably.
Live solar wind
NOAA DSCOVR/ACESolar wind is average. Watch for Bz to drop — it is often the first sign of activity.
Bz is the direction of the solar wind’s magnetic field. Negative Bz (southward) opens a window into Earth’s field and often delivers aurora within 30–90 minutes; positive Bz closes it. Speeds above 500 km/s raise the odds further.
The next three nights
SouthSame scoring as tonight — Kp forecast, cloud cover and moonlight for each night.
How to read this forecast
A combined figure from geomagnetic activity (Kp), cloud cover and moonlight. It is an estimate for a typical viewer, not a guarantee.
Aurora sits about 100 km up, so low and mid-level cloud is what blocks the view. We therefore score “blocking cloud” separately from total cloud cover.
Kp measures geomagnetic activity in 3-hour blocks. Bz shows whether the solar wind couples to Earth’s field: negative (southward) Bz is favourable and often brings aurora within 30–90 minutes.
Iceland runs on UTC and the night starts when the sun drops 6° below the horizon. A full moon can dim faint aurora, but bright displays still show through.
The KP Index explained
The KP index measures geomagnetic activity on a 0–9 scale. Higher KP = stronger aurora visible farther south. In Iceland a low KP is often enough because of the latitude.
Aurora visible only in the far north, in good conditions.
Visible in Reykjavík if sky is clear.
Clearly visible across the country, bright in the south.
Powerful aurora — visible even with city lights.
Best spots near Reykjavík
National park with darkness and no lights. Excellent spot.
Black sand beach on the south coast — dark and beautiful, but hazardous near the water.
Photography guide
- •Camera on tripod — ISO 1600+, f/2.8, 10–20 sec exposure.
- •Phone: use "Night Mode" and hold still — 3 sec or longer.
- •Avoid city lights — go at least 20 min outside town.
- Sign up for aurora alerts right here — we email you when conditions look good.
Tips for seeing the aurora
- •Get away from city lights – darker is better.
- •Auroras are most active between 20:00 and 02:00.
- •Check the hourly cloud bars above – above 70% blocks almost everything.
- •Dress warmly – you'll be standing in the cold.
- •Give it 30–60 minutes outside: displays often come in short bursts.
Aurora facts
- •Aurora is caused by solar wind hitting Earth.
- •Aurora is between 100 and 300 km above Earth.
- •Color depends on the gas — green is oxygen, red-blue is nitrogen.
- •The Kp index is global, but Iceland sits far enough north that Kp 2–3 often brings aurora under a clear sky.
- •Aurora arrives in bursts (substorms) — it can be quiet for an hour, then flare up in 10 minutes.
Northern lights FAQ
+When is the best time to see the northern lights in Iceland?
The season runs September to April, and the best hours are 20:00–02:00, often around midnight. In summer it never gets dark enough, so no aurora is visible.
+Do I need to travel far from Reykjavík?
A 10–20 minute drive is often enough (Grótta, Öskjuhlíð), but 30–60 minutes to a darker spot makes faint aurora much more visible. Þingvellir is 45 minutes out.
+What Kp value do I need to see aurora in Iceland?
Kp 2–3 is often enough in Iceland because of its latitude — the Kp index is a global measure, not a local forecast. Cloud cover usually matters more than Kp.
+Can I see aurora in downtown Reykjavík?
Yes when activity is high (Kp 4+), but city lights swallow faint aurora. 15 minutes out to Grótta or up Öskjuhlíð makes a big difference.
+What does negative Bz mean?
Bz describes the direction of the solar wind’s magnetic field. When Bz is negative (southward) energy couples to Earth’s field and aurora becomes likelier within 30–90 minutes. Bz below −5 nT is a good sign.
+Can forecasts predict aurora exactly?
No. Kp forecasts reach 3 days ahead but accuracy is best within a few hours. Aurora arrives in bursts, so check Bz and cloud right before you head out and allow time.
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