Northern lights Snæfellsbær tonight

7-day outlook for Snæfellsbær

Based on CME arrival predictions from NASA DONKI. Arrival times ±6 hours.

What Kp is needed here?

Snæfellsbær 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 Snæfellsbær 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 Snæfellsbær

Light pollution is the biggest obstacle after cloud cover. These sites give you the best dark northern horizon within reach.

Best time to see the northern lights in Snæfellsbær

At 65°N magnetic latitude, Snæfellsbær 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 Snæfellsbær'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