Northern lights in Whitehorse tonight
Yukon, Canada · 63° magnetic latitude · Kp 2-3 threshold
Kp 1 is below the threshold for Whitehorse. Activity would need to rise to Kp 2-3 before aurora could reach this latitude.
7-day outlook for Whitehorse
Based on CME arrival predictions from NASA DONKI. Arrival times ±6 hours.
auroratonight.space
What Kp is needed here?
Whitehorse sits at a magnetic latitude of approximately 63°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 2-3 before the auroral oval expands far enough south to be visible from here.
At Kp 2-3, 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
Get directions ↗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
Get directions ↗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
Get directions ↗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.
Best time to see the northern lights in Whitehorse
At 63°N magnetic latitude, Whitehorse 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 Whitehorse'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 Whitehorse?
Average nights per month the Kp reached Whitehorse's threshold of 2+, from 15 years of geomagnetic data (2010–2024).
Counts the Kp 2+ 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 Whitehorse
Best window
The September to November window averages 62 aurora nights - the strongest consecutive stretch of the year.
How long to stay
For your best chance in March, plan at least 2 nights.
Related pages
Northern Lights Canada
Canada-wide aurora forecast hub.
Read →Northern Lights Yellowknife Tonight
Yellowknife - aurora capital of North America.
Read →Northern Lights Fairbanks Tonight
Fairbanks - Alaska's aurora capital, accessible from Whitehorse.
Read →What Is the Kp Index?
What Kp 2 means for viewing at 63° geomagnetic latitude.
Read →Tips for Viewing the Northern Lights
How to prepare for an aurora night in Yukon wilderness.
Read →Aurora photographs from Whitehorse
Real photos sourced from Wikimedia Commons.
Aurora over Whitehorse 
Aurora over Whitehorse 
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