Northern lights Westfjords tonight
The Westfjords sit at ~66°N magnetic latitude and are Iceland's least visited and most light-pollution-free region. Kp 2 is enough from almost anywhere outside Ísafjörður. Dynjandi waterfall and Látrabjarg cliffs are the standout dark sky sites. Best season: September to April.
Aurora visibility - Westfjords
Low chance tonight
Kp 1 is below the threshold for Westfjords. Activity would need to rise to Kp 2 before aurora could reach this latitude.
Current Kp
1
of 9
7-day outlook for Westfjords
Today
15 May
Tomorrow
16 May
Sun
17 May
Mon
18 May
Tue
19 May
Wed
20 May
Thu
21 May
Based on CME arrival predictions from NASA DONKI. Arrival times ±6 hours.
What Kp is needed here?
Westfjords 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 Westfjords 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 Westfjords
Light pollution is the biggest obstacle after cloud cover. These sites give you the best dark northern horizon within reach.
Ísafjörður fjord viewpoints
The small town of Ísafjörður sits at the head of a deep fjord with steep dark mountains on all sides that block any distant light pollution. Drive 10 minutes out of town in any direction and you are in complete darkness. The fjord faces broadly north and west, with the dark mountainsides giving a natural frame. On clear nights the stars are visible to the waterline.
Dynjandi waterfall area
The spectacular tiered waterfall Dynjandi sits in a remote fjord arm about 60 km south of Ísafjörður on Route 60. The valley around the waterfall has no artificial light for many kilometres in any direction. The waterfall itself, cascading 100 metres down a broad fan of rock, gives a dramatic foreground. This is one of the darkest accessible locations in Iceland.
Látrabjarg cliffs
The westernmost point of Iceland and of Europe, Látrabjarg is a 14 km long sea cliff at the far tip of the Westfjords. The drive from Ísafjörður takes about 2.5 hours on unpaved roads. Facing due west over the open Atlantic with no land between here and Canada, the horizon is completely dark. Aurora on the north-western horizon is unobstructed by any land mass. The road requires a 4WD and careful planning.
Best time to see the northern lights in Westfjords
At 66°N magnetic latitude, Westfjords 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 Westfjords'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.
Related pages
Northern Lights Iceland
Iceland-wide aurora forecast hub.
Northern Lights Snæfellsnes Tonight
Snæfellsnes Peninsula - the closest dark sky to Reykjavik.
Northern Lights Akureyri Tonight
Akureyri - north Iceland with Lake Mývatn nearby.
Northern Lights Photography
How to photograph aurora in Iceland's remote landscapes.
What Is the Kp Index?
What Kp 2 means for viewing at 66°N magnetic latitude.
Common questions
Aurora watching from Iceland's most remote and darkest region.
