Aurora Tonight
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Northern lights Whitehorse tonight

Whitehorse sits at ~67°N magnetic latitude. Kp 2 is the threshold from dark sites outside the city. The Yukon combines solid aurora activity with some of Canada's most dramatic mountain and wilderness scenery. Kluane National Park lodges give access to aurora beneath the St. Elias Mountains. Best season: August to April.

Aurora visibility — Whitehorse

Low chance tonight

Kp 1 is below the threshold for Whitehorse. Activity would need to rise to Kp 2 before aurora could reach this latitude.

Current Kp

1

of 9

Threshold for Whitehorse: Kp 2 Magnetic latitude: ~67°N Updated: 10 May, 11:08 UTC

What Kp is needed here?

Whitehorse 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 2 before the auroral oval expands far enough south to be visible from here.

At Kp 2, visibility is possible from Whitehorse 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 Whitehorse

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

Fish Lake Road corridor

A paved road leading southwest from Whitehorse into the Yukon wilderness. Within 15 minutes of the city, the road passes through dark boreal forest with no settlement. Several lake pullouts give open north-facing sky. The most accessible aurora chase route for Whitehorse visitors.

Yukon Wildlife Preserve area

The preserve sits on the north edge of Whitehorse and gives open tundra and meadow sky to the north. The preserved landscape has no light pollution to the north and east. The road along Miles Canyon, carved by the Yukon River, gives dramatic dark gorge positions for aurora photography.

Kluane National Park lodges

About 170 km west of Whitehorse, Kluane gives access to the St. Elias Mountains - the highest coastal range in the world. Wilderness lodges along the Alaska Highway near Haines Junction provide aurora bases at 61°N with open mountain sky. The reflection of aurora off the lakes beneath the glaciated peaks is one of the most dramatic aurora settings in North America.

Other Canada aurora forecasts

Canada overview Yellowknife Banff Fairbanks

Related pages

Northern Lights Canada

Canada-wide aurora forecast hub.

Northern Lights Yellowknife Tonight

Yellowknife - aurora capital of North America.

Northern Lights Fairbanks Tonight

Fairbanks - Alaska's aurora capital, accessible from Whitehorse.

What Is the Kp Index?

What Kp 2 means for viewing at 67°N magnetic latitude.

Tips for Viewing the Northern Lights

How to prepare for an aurora night in Yukon wilderness.

Common questions

Aurora watching from Whitehorse and the Yukon.

Is Whitehorse good for seeing the northern lights?
Yes. Whitehorse sits at ~67°N magnetic latitude - slightly below the auroral oval but well inside the zone of regular aurora activity. Kp 2 from the dark sites outside the city. The Yukon landscape of boreal forest, lakes, and the St. Elias Mountains gives a more varied landscape than the flat tundra around Yellowknife. As the capital of the Yukon, Whitehorse has good flight connections and a solid base of wilderness lodge operators.
What Kp is needed for aurora in Whitehorse?
Kp 2 from the Fish Lake Road corridor or the Yukon Wildlife Preserve area, about 15 minutes from the city. At 67°N magnetic latitude, Whitehorse is just south of the auroral oval. Quiet nights produce faint arcs; Kp 2-3 gives active displays. The city has some light pollution, but it is small enough that a short drive puts you in genuine darkness.
How does Whitehorse compare to Yellowknife for aurora?
Yellowknife at 69°N has the statistical edge - it sits more directly under the auroral oval and sees aurora at lower Kp values. Whitehorse at 67°N needs Kp 2 versus Yellowknife's Kp 1. However, Whitehorse has a more dramatic landscape (mountains vs boreal forest), and the Kluane National Park wilderness lodges give a more rugged wilderness experience. For pure aurora frequency, Yellowknife wins. For scenery and mountain backdrop, Whitehorse and the Yukon are unmatched.
When is the best time to see aurora in Whitehorse?
August to April. Whitehorse has adequate darkness from mid-August and the equinox months of September and March are the most geomagnetically active. The Yukon gets dark from late August (8+ hours of night) through May. Winter darkness is extreme (17+ hours of night in December) but temperatures are severe (-20 to -30°C). Many visitors prefer October-November or March for the balance of activity and manageable cold.
How do I get to Whitehorse?
Fly to Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport (YXY) from Vancouver (Air Canada/WestJet, ~2h15m), Calgary (~2h45m), or Edmonton. Air North operates routes across the Yukon. Alaska Airlines connects seasonally from Seattle. The Alaska Highway connects Whitehorse to Dawson Creek, BC for those driving - 2,500 km from Vancouver, but a classic overland route.