Northern lights Šumava tonight

7-day outlook for Šumava National Park

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

What Kp is needed here?

Šumava National Park sits at a magnetic latitude of approximately 50°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 6–7 before the auroral oval expands far enough south to be visible from here.

At Kp 6–7, visibility is possible from Šumava National Park 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 Šumava National Park

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

Best time to see the northern lights in Šumava National Park

At 50°N magnetic latitude, Šumava National Park sits at the lower end of regular aurora territory. Only the deep mid-winter months of November through January offer nights dark enough for aurora to be visible, and only then when a significant geomagnetic storm pushes the auroral oval this far south.

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 Šumava National Park's latitude.

Outside November through January, twilight is too bright for aurora viewing even during significant storms. The season is short, but the equinox months on either side of winter can extend it slightly when storm timing aligns.

Other European aurora forecasts