Northern lights Tórshavn tonight
Tórshavn sits at 62°N magnetic latitude on the island of Streymoy. Kp 3 is the threshold from dark positions outside the capital. Sornfelli summit at 749 m clears coastal cloud and gives a panoramic dark sky. Kirkjubøur on the south coast offers a historic Norse foreground over the open Atlantic. Best season: September to April.
Aurora visibility - Tórshavn
Unlikely tonight
Kp 1 is well below the Kp 3 threshold needed for aurora to be visible from Tórshavn.
Current Kp
1
of 9
7-day outlook for Tórshavn
Today
19 May
Tomorrow
20 May
Thu
21 May
Fri
22 May
Sat
23 May
Sun
24 May
Mon
25 May
Based on CME arrival predictions from NASA DONKI. Arrival times ±6 hours.
What Kp is needed here?
Tórshavn sits at a magnetic latitude of approximately 62°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 before the auroral oval expands far enough south to be visible from here.
At Kp 3, visibility is possible from Tórshavn 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 Tórshavn
Light pollution is the biggest obstacle after cloud cover. These sites give you the best dark northern horizon within reach.
Kirkjubøur historic village
Get directions ↗Historic Norse village on the south coast of Streymoy facing west over open Atlantic. The ruins of Magnus Cathedral (13th century) and the wooden Roykstovan farmhouse sit on a dark shore with no light pollution to the south or west. The Atlantic-facing aspect means displays extending westward are well placed here. One of the most historically atmospheric aurora foregrounds in the North Atlantic.
Sornfelli mountain summit
Get directions ↗The highest point on Streymoy at 749 m, reached by a mountain road open in good conditions. A TV transmitter marks the summit, but away from it the sky is dark in all directions. The elevation clears most coastal cloud and gives a panoramic view from sea to sea. On clear nights with Kp 3–4, aurora is visible across the entire northern and eastern horizon.
Kaldbak fjord
Get directions ↗A north-facing fjord 10 km east of Tórshavn with dark mountain walls on both sides. The road along the western shore gives north-facing water views with no light pollution from the fjord head. A practical option when driving to Sornfelli is not possible due to road conditions. The enclosed fjord reduces wind exposure compared to cliff-top positions.
Best time to see the northern lights in Tórshavn
Tórshavn'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 Tórshavn'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.
Related pages
Faroe Islands Aurora Overview
Overview of aurora conditions across the Faroe Islands.
Northern Lights Gásadalur Tonight
Múlafossur waterfall and open Atlantic horizon on Vágar.
Northern Lights Eiði Tonight
Risin og Kellingin sea stacks on the north coast of Eysturoy.
Northern Lights Iceland
Iceland aurora overview - comparable latitude, direct links from the Faroes.
What Is the Kp Index?
How Kp 3 determines aurora visibility at 62°N.
Common questions
Northern lights from Tórshavn and Streymoy.
