Northern lights in Tallinn tonight
Harju County, Estonia · 60° magnetic latitude · Kp 3–4 threshold
Kp 1 is well below the Kp 3–4 threshold needed for aurora to be visible from Tallinn.
7-day outlook for Tallinn
Based on CME arrival predictions from NASA DONKI. Arrival times ±6 hours.
auroratonight.space
What Kp is needed here?
Tallinn sits at a magnetic latitude of approximately 60°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 3–4 before the auroral oval expands far enough south to be visible from here.
At Kp 3–4, visibility is possible from Tallinn 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 Tallinn
Light pollution is the biggest obstacle after cloud cover. These sites give you the best dark northern horizon within reach.
Lahemaa National Park (north Estonia coast)
Get directions ↗Estonia's largest national park, 70 km east of Tallinn along the north coast road. The park coastline faces north over the Gulf of Finland. The beaches at Käsmu and Altja give open north-facing positions with Bortle 2-3 sky - minimal artificial light for many kilometres in any direction. The Käsmu peninsula is the best single position: a narrow headland with north-facing shore on both sides. Drive the Tallinn-Narva highway east and turn north to Palmse, then follow coast road signs. At Kp 3-4, aurora is visible from the Lahemaa coast as a clear arc on the northern horizon.
Paldiski Peninsula
Get directions ↗A remote headland 50 km west of Tallinn, formerly a Soviet naval base and now largely uninhabited. The north-facing cliffs drop directly to the Gulf of Finland. Limited development means genuinely dark sky - Bortle 2-3. Drive the Paldiski road west from Tallinn in 45 minutes. The elevated cliff positions give a clear northern horizon across open sea. The northernmost point of the peninsula at Pakri lighthouse faces north with no obstruction. Practical for a quick response from Tallinn when a Kp 3-4 event develops on a clear evening.
Nõva coastline (west Estonia)
Get directions ↗The north-west coast of Estonia near Nõva and Osmussaar island, 100 km south-west of Tallinn. The coast faces north and north-west over the open Baltic. Bortle 2 at the outer coast - among the darkest accessible positions on the Estonian mainland. The Matsalu National Park wetlands inland add to the darkness. A longer drive commitment but gives the best dark sky if travelling from Tallinn specifically for aurora on a strong G1-G2 forecast.
Best time to see the northern lights in Tallinn
Tallinn's aurora season runs from late September through to March, when nights are long enough for truly dark skies. The equinox months, September and March, bring a natural boost in geomagnetic activity, making them statistically the best of the season. Summer months bring too much twilight for aurora to be visible at this latitude.
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 Tallinn's latitude.
April through August brings persistent astronomical twilight that washes out aurora completely. Even strong events (Kp 6+) remain invisible during this period because the sky never gets dark enough.
Other Baltic aurora forecasts
How often does the aurora appear in Tallinn?
Average nights per month the Kp reached Tallinn's threshold of 3+, from 15 years of geomagnetic data (2010–2024).
Counts the Kp 3+ 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 Tallinn
Best window
The September to November window averages 36 aurora nights - the strongest consecutive stretch of the year.
How long to stay
For your best chance in March, plan at least 3 nights.
Related pages
Northern Lights Estonia
Estonia aurora hub - Tallinn and the north coast.
Read →Northern Lights Latvia
Latvia - Riga and Cape Kolka, Kp 4-5.
Read →Northern Lights Finland
Finland - Helsinki to Lapland, Kp 1-4.
Read →What Is the Kp Index?
How Kp 3-4 translates to aurora visibility at 60°N.
Read →Northern Lights Viewing Tips
Dark sites, timing, and what to look for.
Read →Aurora photographs from Tallinn
Real photos sourced from Wikimedia Commons.
Aurora over Tallinn 
Aurora over Tallinn 
Aurora over Tallinn 
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