Northern lights in Churchill tonight
Manitoba, Canada · 67° magnetic latitude · Kp 1-2 threshold
Kp 1 is at the threshold for Churchill. Aurora may be visible from a dark site if cloud cover permits.
7-day outlook for Churchill
Based on CME arrival predictions from NASA DONKI. Arrival times ±6 hours.
auroratonight.space
What Kp is needed here?
Churchill sits at a magnetic latitude of approximately 67°N. 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 1-2 before the auroral oval expands far enough south to be visible from here.
At Kp 1-2, visibility is possible from Churchill but skies need to be clear and dark. Cloud cover and light pollution remain the main obstacles even when Kp is high enough.
Best dark sky sites near Churchill
Light pollution is the biggest obstacle after cloud cover. These sites give you the best dark northern horizon within reach.
Hudson Bay coast
Get directions ↗Churchill sits on the west coast of Hudson Bay at 58°N geographic latitude (67° geomagnetic). The bay itself is open water (or ice) to the east, north, and south - giving an enormous clear horizon in every direction except west. The aurora descends to low elevation angles above the bay on active nights. The unobstructed coastal panorama is the widest open-sky position at this geomagnetic latitude in North America.
Churchill Northern Studies Centre
Get directions ↗A research and accommodation facility on the edge of Churchill with an aurora observatory and heating facilities. The centre hosts aurora research and public viewing programmes. The tundra around the building gives 360-degree sky access with no obstructions.
Tundra buggy aurora tours
Get directions ↗The same vehicle platforms used for polar bear viewing are operated at night for aurora watching in season. The elevated deck of a tundra buggy on the frozen tundra or sea ice gives a wide panoramic view with no trees to block the horizon. A genuinely unique way to watch aurora - standing on a vehicle 3 metres above the tundra surface at 67° geomagnetic latitude with polar bear country all around.
Best time to see the northern lights in Churchill
At 67°N magnetic latitude, Churchill has one of the longest aurora seasons in the world. Meaningful darkness returns in late August and displays are possible on almost any clear night from September through March. Only the endless daylight of May, June, and July rules out viewing completely.
Activity peaks around the September and March equinoxes, when Earth's magnetic field geometry is most favourable for coupling with the solar wind. Events during these two windows tend to produce the strongest displays of the year for observers at Churchill's latitude.
May through July is effectively impossible for aurora viewing: the midnight sun keeps the sky bright around the clock at this latitude. No storm level, not even G5, can produce a visible display without astronomical darkness.
Other Canada aurora forecasts
Up to 8 locations
How often does the aurora appear in Churchill?
Average nights per month the Kp reached Churchill's threshold of 1+, from 15 years of geomagnetic data (2010–2024).
Counts the Kp 1+ threshold only - cloud cover and local darkness are not included.
Kp data: GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, CC BY 4.0
Plan your trip to Churchill
Best window
The September to November window averages 88 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.
Related pages
Northern Lights Canada
Canada-wide aurora forecast hub.
Read →Northern Lights Yellowknife Tonight
Yellowknife - aurora capital of North America, just north at 69° geomagnetic.
Read →Northern Lights Whitehorse Tonight
Whitehorse - Yukon wilderness aurora with mountain scenery.
Read →What Is the Kp Index?
Why Kp 1-2 is enough inside the auroral oval at 67° geomagnetic.
Read →Northern Lights Photography
Camera settings for aurora above Hudson Bay sea ice.
Read →Aurora photographs from Churchill
Real photos sourced from Wikimedia Commons.
Aurora over Churchill 
Aurora over Churchill 
Aurora over Churchill 
Aurora over Churchill 
Aurora over Churchill 
Aurora over Churchill Planning your aurora trip
In-depth guides to help you plan a trip to see the northern lights.
Travel Guide Canada Northern Lights Canada - Complete Travel Guide
Yukon, Northwest Territories, Manitoba - where to go and when the aurora is strongest.
Travel Guide All destinations How to Plan a Northern Lights Trip
Destination, timing, accommodation, app setup, and how to read a space weather forecast.
Planning All destinations Best Time to See the Northern Lights
Month-by-month breakdown of aurora probability, darkness windows, and weather patterns.
