Northern lights in Selfoss tonight
South Iceland · 64° magnetic latitude · Kp 3 threshold
Kp 1 is well below the Kp 3 threshold needed for aurora to be visible from Selfoss.
7-day outlook for Selfoss
Based on CME arrival predictions from NASA DONKI. Arrival times ±6 hours.
auroratonight.space
What Kp is needed here?
Selfoss sits at a magnetic latitude of approximately 64°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 Selfoss 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 Selfoss
Light pollution is the biggest obstacle after cloud cover. These sites give you the best dark northern horizon within reach.
Þingvellir National Park
Get directions ↗Part of the Golden Circle and a UNESCO World Heritage site, Þingvellir sits in a rift valley where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are pulling apart. The national park has no significant light pollution and north-facing views across Lake Þingvallavatn toward open country. The rift walls block distant city glow. About 40 minutes from Selfoss on Route 36.
Hella and surrounding farmland
Get directions ↗The agricultural plain around Hella, 30 minutes east of Selfoss along Route 1, is one of south Iceland's flattest and most open dark-sky areas. The farmland sits below the Hekla volcano with a clear horizon in all directions. No significant light pollution outside the small town of Hella. The flat terrain gives a low, wide sky ideal for watching a full aurora arc develop.
Kerið crater lake
Get directions ↗A volcanic crater lake on Route 35 between Selfoss and the Golden Circle, Kerið is about 15 minutes north of Selfoss. The 270-metre wide, 170-metre deep crater gives a dramatic and unusual foreground - the vivid red and black volcanic walls with the turquoise lake below. At night it is completely dark away from the access road, and the crater rim gives an elevated view of the surrounding plain.
Best time to see the northern lights in Selfoss
Selfoss'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 Selfoss'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.
Other Iceland aurora forecasts
Up to 8 locations
How often does the aurora appear in Selfoss?
Average nights per month the Kp reached Selfoss's threshold of 3+, from 15 years of geomagnetic data (2010–2024).
Counts the Kp 3+ 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 Selfoss
Best window
The September to November window averages 36 aurora nights - the strongest consecutive stretch of the year.
How long to stay
For your best chance in March, plan at least 3 nights.
Related pages
Northern Lights Iceland
Iceland-wide aurora forecast hub.
Read →Northern Lights Reykjavik Tonight
Reykjavik - 50 minutes west with the Grótta lighthouse.
Read →Northern Lights Golden Circle Tonight
Þingvellir, Geysir, and Gullfoss - the Golden Circle aurora route.
Read →Northern Lights Vík Tonight
Vík and Reynisfjara black sand beach - 120 km east.
Read →What Is the Kp Index?
What Kp 3 means for viewing at 64°N magnetic latitude.
Read →Planning your aurora trip
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