Live aurora forecast

Northern lights in Warrnambool tonight

Victoria, Australia · 47° magnetic latitude · Kp 5-6 threshold

Aurora visibility · Warrnambool
1/9
Unlikely tonight

Kp 1 is well below the Kp 5-6 threshold needed for aurora to be visible from Warrnambool.

QuietStormExtreme
Threshold
Kp 5-6
Magnetic latitude
~47°S
Bz ↓ south
- nT
Solar wind
- km/s
Density
- p/cm³
Cloud
-
Conditions right now: - Kp + Bz + solar wind + cloud + moon

Updated: 12 Jul, 22:51 UTC

7-day outlook for Warrnambool

Today
12 Jul
1
Quiet
Tomorrow
13 Jul
3
Quiet
Tue
14 Jul
3
Quiet
Wed
15 Jul
3
Quiet
Thu
16 Jul
3
Quiet
Fri
17 Jul
3
Quiet
Sat
18 Jul
3
Quiet

Based on CME arrival predictions from NASA DONKI. Arrival times ±6 hours.

auroratonight.space

What Kp is needed here?

Warrnambool sits at a magnetic latitude of approximately 47°S. The Kp index - a global measure of geomagnetic activity on a scale from 0 (quiet) to 9 (extreme storm), updated every 3 hours - needs to reach Kp 5-6 before the auroral oval expands far enough north to be visible from here.

At Kp 5-6, visibility is possible from Warrnambool but skies need to be clear and dark. Cloud cover and light pollution remain the main obstacles even when Kp is high enough.

Plan your viewing

Best dark sky sites near Warrnambool

Light pollution is the biggest obstacle after cloud cover. These sites give you the best dark southern horizon within reach.

Cape Otway lighthouse area

Get directions ↗
Bortle Class 3 - Rural sky 90 km east of Warrnambool - approximately 75 minute drive

Cape Otway is the southernmost point of mainland Australia accessible by road along the Great Ocean Road. The lighthouse at 90 m above sea level faces directly south onto Bass Strait and the Southern Ocean beyond. The surrounding national park - Otway National Park - has minimal light pollution. The approach roads through the Otways are dark. Position near the lighthouse car park or on the cleared headland facing south. At Kp 5-6, aurora australis appears south of due south. The lighthouse is heritage-listed and the area is well maintained. The drive along the Great Ocean Road is scenic by day and navigable at night with care.

Port Campbell National Park

Get directions ↗
Bortle Class 3 - Rural sky 65 km east of Warrnambool - approximately 55 minute drive

Port Campbell and the Twelve Apostles area face south along the Great Ocean Road. The clifftop viewpoints above the Twelve Apostles give elevated southern horizon with ocean below. At night, the tourist infrastructure is unlit and the position is dark relative to the stacks. Port Campbell township is small and generates minimal glow. The Gibson Steps beach, accessible on foot, gives a sea-level position at the base of the cliffs with a clear southern horizon. At Kp 5-6, aurora australis appears low to the south from the clifftop platforms.

Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve

Get directions ↗
Bortle Class 3-4 - Rural sky 15 km west of Warrnambool - approximately 15 minute drive

An extinct volcano crater west of Warrnambool, now a wildlife reserve. The crater rim gives an elevated position above the surrounding plains. The interior of the crater is dark and faces south. Warrnambool's light dome is to the east, which affects the southeastern horizon but leaves the southwest and due south relatively unaffected. The reserve road is sealed and accessible at night. Emus and koalas use the reserve - drive slowly. The elevated crater rim gives better southern horizon than positions in flat terrain at the same distance from town.

When to go

Best time to see the aurora australis in Warrnambool

At 47°S magnetic latitude, Warrnambool sits at the outer edge of regular aurora australis territory. Only the southern winter months, May through July, occasionally bring storms powerful enough to push the oval this far north. Outside this window, there is insufficient darkness for aurora to be visible.

Activity peaks around the March and September equinoxes, when Earth's magnetic field geometry is most favourable for coupling with the solar wind. These windows produce the strongest aurora australis events of the year for observers at this latitude.

Outside May through July, twilight prevents aurora visibility even during significant geomagnetic storms. The season is short, but equinox months on either side of winter can extend it when timing is favourable.

Up to 8 locations

Warrnambool

Australia

Unlikely
Kp 1 need Kp 5-6
Checking darkness…
Melbourne

Australia

Unlikely
Kp 1 need Kp 7-8
Checking darkness…
Ballarat

Australia

Unlikely
Kp 1 need Kp 5-6
Checking darkness…
The odds

How often does the aurora appear in Warrnambool?

Average nights per month the Kp reached Warrnambool's threshold of 5+, from 15 years of geomagnetic data (2010–2024).

1.2Jan
1.3Feb
1.6Mar
1.4Apr
1.2May
1Jun
1.2Jul
1.4Aug
1.5Sep
1.5Oct
1.2Nov
1.1Dec

Counts the Kp 5+ threshold only - cloud cover and local darkness are not included.
Kp data: GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, CC BY 4.0

Make it happen

Plan your trip to Warrnambool

Based on 15 years of geomagnetic data (2010–2024)

1st
March
1.6
avg aurora nights
Requires an extended stay
2nd
September
1.5
avg aurora nights
Requires an extended stay
3rd
October
1.5
avg aurora nights
Requires an extended stay

Best window

The August to October window averages 4 aurora nights - the strongest consecutive stretch of the year.

How long to stay

Aurora at this latitude requires patience - allow as many nights as possible during March.

Aurora activity peaks at the March and September equinoxes in both hemispheres. This is driven by the angle of Earth's magnetic field relative to the solar wind, not by local seasons. Winter months at this latitude offer longer dark nights for observing, but March and September average the highest number of aurora nights in the historical data.

From the community

Aurora photographs from Warrnambool

Real photos sourced from Wikimedia Commons.

Aurora over WarrnamboolAurora over Warrnambool
Aurora over WarrnamboolAurora over Warrnambool
Aurora over WarrnamboolAurora over Warrnambool
Aurora over WarrnamboolAurora over Warrnambool
Aurora over WarrnamboolAurora over Warrnambool
Aurora over WarrnamboolAurora over Warrnambool
Questions

Common questions about aurora in Warrnambool

Can you see aurora australis from Warrnambool?
Yes, during moderate geomagnetic storms. Warrnambool sits at 47°S magnetic latitude on the Great Ocean Road coast and needs Kp 5-6 for aurora australis from south-facing positions. Cape Otway (90 km east) and Port Campbell (65 km east) give the best dark sky headland positions. Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve (15 km west) is more accessible but slightly brighter. During G1-G2 storms, aurora may appear as a green or white arc on the southern horizon from the clifftop viewpoints.
What Kp is needed for aurora at Warrnambool?
Kp 5-6 from Cape Otway and Port Campbell. At 47°S magnetic latitude, Warrnambool is comparable to Port Lincoln and Ceduna in South Australia. The Great Ocean Road coast gives south-facing ocean exposure that is better than inland positions at the same magnetic latitude. Kp 5 events occur several times per year during solar maximum.
Where are the best dark sky sites near Warrnambool?
Cape Otway (90 km east) is the highest-quality dark sky position - the lighthouse headland faces directly south with national park darkness on all sides. Port Campbell National Park (65 km east) has the Twelve Apostles clifftop positions and Gibson Steps beach. Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve (15 km west) is the closest and gives a practical elevated position for nights when a long drive is not practical. All three face south over open water.
When is the best time for aurora in Warrnambool?
May to August for the longest dark nights. Warrnambool at 38.4°S geographic has around 12-13 hours of darkness in mid-winter. The September equinox is statistically the most active geomagnetic period. The Great Ocean Road coast is exposed to Southern Ocean weather and cloud cover can be significant. Check Bureau of Meteorology forecasts before driving out. Winter often brings clearer nights inland than on the coast, so Tower Hill can outperform Cape Otway in cloud-cover terms despite being darker at the cape.
Is the Great Ocean Road a good aurora base?
Yes for visitors already in the region. The Great Ocean Road from Warrnambool east to Cape Otway gives multiple south-facing viewpoints with varying levels of dark sky. The cliff-top positions at Loch Ard Gorge, the Twelve Apostles, and Cape Otway all face south over ocean. Port Campbell and Apollo Bay have accommodation. For dedicated aurora trips from Melbourne, the Great Ocean Road is the practical southern Victoria aurora route - 2-3 hours from the city to Cape Otway depending on traffic.
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