Northern lights in Akureyri tonight
North Iceland · 66° magnetic latitude · Kp 2 threshold
Kp 1 is below the threshold for Akureyri. Activity would need to rise to Kp 2 before aurora could reach this latitude.
7-day outlook for Akureyri
Based on CME arrival predictions from NASA DONKI. Arrival times ±6 hours.
auroratonight.space
What Kp is needed here?
Akureyri sits at a magnetic latitude of approximately 66°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 2 before the auroral oval expands far enough south to be visible from here.
At Kp 2, visibility is possible from Akureyri 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 Akureyri
Light pollution is the biggest obstacle after cloud cover. These sites give you the best dark northern horizon within reach.
Lake Mývatn - Dimmuborgir and Námafjall
Get directions ↗About 100 km east of Akureyri. The lava field landscape around Mývatn - with the volcanic craters of Dimmuborgir and the steaming Námafjall geothermal ridge - gives one of Iceland's most dramatic and dark aurora foregrounds. The lake reflects aurora on calm nights.
Aldeyjarfoss waterfall
Get directions ↗A basalt column waterfall on the Skjálfandafljót river, accessible from the F26 Sprengisandur highland road. About 50 minutes from Akureyri on a rough track (4WD in winter). Completely dark with the aurora illuminating the basalt columns and white water.
Goðafoss waterfall
Get directions ↗40 minutes east of Akureyri on the Ring Road. The wide horseshoe waterfall faces roughly north and faces north - useful for aurora photography when conditions are right. One of Iceland's most photographed waterfalls - accessible by paved road with a large car park.
Best time to see the northern lights in Akureyri
At 66°N magnetic latitude, Akureyri 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 Akureyri'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.
Other Iceland aurora forecasts
Up to 8 locations
How often does the aurora appear in Akureyri?
Average nights per month the Kp reached Akureyri's threshold of 2+, from 15 years of geomagnetic data (2010–2024).
Counts the Kp 2+ 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 Akureyri
Best window
The January to March window averages 60 aurora nights - the strongest consecutive stretch of the year.
How long to stay
For your best chance in March, plan at least 2 nights.
Related pages
Northern Lights Iceland
Iceland-wide aurora forecast hub.
Read →Northern Lights Reykjavik Tonight
Reykjavik is 5 hours south with a slightly higher Kp threshold.
Read →Northern Lights Jökulsárlón Tonight
Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon on Iceland's south coast.
Read →Northern Lights Photography
Camera settings for aurora at Mývatn and Goðafoss.
Read →What Is the Kp Index?
What Kp 2 means for viewing at 66°N magnetic latitude.
Read →Planning your aurora trip
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Travel Guide Iceland Northern Lights Iceland - Complete Travel Guide
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