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Live aurora forecast

Northern lights Germany tonight

Hamburg at ~56°N needs Kp 5-6; Berlin at ~54°N needs Kp 6-7. Aurora from Germany requires moderate to strong storms. The G5 event of May 2024 produced sightings across the country. The north German coast, Lüneburger Heide, and Mecklenburg lake district give the best dark-sky positions.

Current Kp: 1 · Quiet

Aurora visibility by location

Hamburg

Unlikely

North Sea and Baltic coast access, Kp 5-6

~56°N mag. lat. · Needs Kp 5+

Berlin

Unlikely

Müritz and Schorfheide dark sky areas, Kp 6-7

~54°N mag. lat. · Needs Kp 6+

Germany aurora at a glance

Germany's aurora threshold varies by latitude. Hamburg at 56°N magnetic latitude is within range during G2 storms - activity that occurs a handful of times per year during solar maximum. Berlin at 54°N requires stronger G3 conditions. The north German plain, bordering the North Sea and Baltic, gives open northern horizons. The Lüneburger Heide south of Hamburg and the Mecklenburg lake district north of Berlin are the country's best dark sky positions for aurora watching.

The G5 storm of May 2024 was the strongest geomagnetic event in over 20 years and produced aurora across Germany, including from Frankfurt and Munich. That is exceptional. The realistic expectation for G2-G3 storms is aurora visible from north German dark sites on clear nights - faint to moderate displays, often strongest at the northern horizon between 22:00 and 02:00 local time.

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Aurora Locations Worldwide

Global hub for all aurora forecast regions.

Northern Lights Hamburg Tonight

Hamburg - Lüneburger Heide and Baltic coast, Kp 5-6.

Northern Lights Berlin Tonight

Berlin - Müritz and Schorfheide, Kp 6-7.

Northern Lights Denmark

Denmark aurora forecast - Copenhagen, Kp 5-6.

Northern Lights Netherlands

Netherlands aurora forecast - Amsterdam and Rotterdam, Kp 6-7.

Common questions

Northern lights in Germany - storm thresholds, dark sky sites, and what to expect.

Can you see the northern lights in Germany?
Yes, during moderate to strong geomagnetic storms. Hamburg at ~56°N magnetic latitude needs Kp 5-6 - reachable during G2 storms that occur several times per year. Berlin at ~54°N needs Kp 6-7, requiring stronger G3 activity. The G5 storm of May 2024 produced widespread aurora across northern Germany, photographed from Hamburg's Elbstrand, the Berlin suburbs, and the Mecklenburg lake district. This was the most widely observed German aurora event in living memory.
What is the best place in Germany to see the northern lights?
Hamburg gives the best access to dark sky coastal positions - the Schleswig-Holstein Baltic coast north of the city and the Lüneburger Heide heathland to the south both give Kp 5-6 aurora. Berlin is further south and needs stronger activity (Kp 6-7), but the Müritz National Park 130 km north is one of Germany's darkest landscapes. For the lowest threshold from Germany, the North Frisian island coast facing the North Sea gives positions comparable to southern Denmark.
What Kp is needed for northern lights in Germany?
Kp 5 from dark sites north of Hamburg (Schleswig-Holstein coast, Naturpark Aukrug). Kp 6 from the Hamburg area generally, and from dark sites north of Berlin. Kp 7 for aurora visible from Berlin itself. Germany spans 47°N to 55°N geographic latitude - the northern tip near Flensburg sits at a meaningfully lower threshold than Munich, which would need Kp 8+.
Has aurora been seen from Germany?
Repeatedly. The G5 storm of May 2024 produced aurora photographed across northern Germany and as far south as Bavaria. The Halloween storms of 2003 produced widespread German sightings. The September 2023 G3 storm produced aurora from Hamburg and the north German coast. During the current solar maximum (Solar Cycle 25), Germany has seen several worthwhile aurora events.
When is the best time for aurora in Germany?
September to March for both aurora frequency and dark nights. The equinox months are the most geomagnetically active. Germany's northern coast has around 16 hours of darkness in December. The practical strategy is to monitor NOAA space weather alerts for G2+ events and move quickly to a dark site when the combination of storm and clear sky forecast aligns.