Northern lights Kittilä tonight
Kittilä sits at ~68°N magnetic latitude inside the auroral oval. Kp 1–2 is sufficient on a clear night. The town is the gateway to Levi ski resort and one of the most accessible aurora destinations in Finnish Lapland, with direct winter flights from the UK. Polar night: December to early January.
Aurora visibility - Kittilä
Possible tonight
Kp 1 is at the threshold for Kittilä. Aurora may be visible from a dark site if cloud cover permits.
Current Kp
1
of 9
7-day outlook for Kittilä
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?
Kittilä sits at a magnetic latitude of approximately 68°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 1–2 before the auroral oval expands far enough south to be visible from here.
At Kp 1–2, visibility is possible from Kittilä 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 Kittilä
Light pollution is the biggest obstacle after cloud cover. These sites give you the best dark northern horizon within reach.
Levi fell summit
Get directions ↗The 531 m summit of Levi fell is the primary aurora watching position for the area. A gondola operates most evenings during the ski season; outside opening hours a snowcat or guide vehicle can reach the summit. The open plateau above the treeline gives 360° dark sky with no light pollution in any direction. Most dedicated aurora tours from Kittilä head here first.
Sirkka lake, Kittilä
Get directions ↗The flat frozen lake north of Kittilä town gives an unobstructed north-facing horizon across open ice. In winter the surface is solid and accessible on foot from the road. Artificial light on the far shore is minimal - effectively zero to the north and east. A practical spot for guests staying in Kittilä who want a quick dark sky position without driving to Levi.
Ounasjoki river corridor
Get directions ↗The Ounasjoki river valley south of town runs through boreal forest with zero light pollution on either bank. The frozen river gives open sky above the treeline. Guide operators use the river corridor for snowmobile aurora safaris - the route heads south along the river and stops when activity is visible. Accessible by car to several river-access pull-offs.
Best time to see the northern lights in Kittilä
At 68°N magnetic latitude, Kittilä 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 Kittilä'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.
Related pages
Northern Lights Finland
Finland-wide aurora forecast hub.
Northern Lights Levi Tonight
Levi - Finland's most popular ski and aurora resort, 15 km from Kittilä.
Northern Lights Ylläs Tonight
Ylläs - Finland's highest fell at 718 m, 30 km south-west.
Northern Lights Rovaniemi Tonight
Rovaniemi - the Arctic Circle gateway, 2 hours south.
What Is the Kp Index?
Why Kp 1-2 is enough inside the auroral oval at 68°N.
Common questions
Aurora watching from Kittilä - direct flights, Levi, and Finnish Lapland winter activities.
