Northern lights in Reykjavik tonight
South-West Iceland · 65° magnetic latitude · Kp 2–3 threshold
Kp 1 is below the threshold for Reykjavik. Activity would need to rise to Kp 2–3 before aurora could reach this latitude.
7-day outlook for Reykjavik
Based on CME arrival predictions from NASA DONKI. Arrival times ±6 hours.
auroratonight.space
What Kp is needed here?
Reykjavik sits at a magnetic latitude of approximately 65°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 2–3 before the auroral oval expands far enough south to be visible from here.
At Kp 2–3, visibility is possible from Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik
Light pollution is the biggest obstacle after cloud cover. These sites give you the best dark northern horizon within reach.
Grótta lighthouse - Seltjarnarnes
Get directions ↗The most practical dark sky point within Reykjavik's municipality. The lighthouse at the north-western tip of Seltjarnarnes peninsula faces open sea to the north and west. City glow is behind you. A 20-minute walk or 10-minute drive from the city centre.
Þingvellir National Park
Get directions ↗A UNESCO World Heritage Site about 45 minutes east of Reykjavik on the Golden Circle route. The lake and lava field give open north-facing sky at genuine Bortle 3 conditions. A standard first-stop for Reykjavik-based aurora chasers on a clear evening.
Álftanes peninsula
Get directions ↗South of Reykjavik past the Bessastaðir presidential residence. The peninsula gives open sea horizon facing south-west and west with less city light than the city centre. Less dark than Grótta but closer for the south side of the city.
Best time to see the northern lights in Reykjavik
At 65°N magnetic latitude, Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik'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 Reykjavik?
Average nights per month the Kp reached Reykjavik'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 Reykjavik
Best window
The September to November window averages 62 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 Golden Circle Tonight
The Golden Circle - 45 minutes from Reykjavik, genuinely dark.
Read →Northern Lights Jökulsárlón Tonight
Iceland's most iconic aurora photography location.
Read →What Is the Kp Index?
What Kp 2-3 means for Iceland's latitude.
Read →Northern Lights Photography
Camera settings for Grótta and Þingvellir aurora photography.
Read →Aurora photographs from Reykjavik
Real photos sourced from Wikimedia Commons.
Aurora over Reykjavik 
Aurora over Reykjavik 
Aurora over Reykjavik 
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