Kp index Kp 6 locations
Storm - mid-latitudes active

Kp 6 aurora locations

A Kp 6 event is a G2 geomagnetic storm - significant enough to produce aurora across much of northern and central Europe, the northern United States, and most of Canada. For UK observers, Kp 6 brings aurora within reach of southern England, Wales, and Ireland on clear nights. The Kp 6 storm of May 2026 produced aurora visible from London, Paris, and New York.

Locations reachable
326
sites at Kp 6+
Storm class
G2 Storm
geomagnetic activity
Min magnetic latitude
55°
aurora visible south of
Current Kp
1
threshold not met

Kp 6 is a step up from Kp 5 and below Kp 7.

What Kp 6 means tonight

A Kp 6 event is a G2 geomagnetic storm - significant enough to produce aurora across much of northern and central Europe, the northern United States, and most of Canada. For UK observers, Kp 6 brings aurora within reach of southern England, Wales, and Ireland on clear nights. The Kp 6 storm of May 2026 produced aurora visible from London, Paris, and New York.

Right now

Current conditions

Kp now 1 G0 · Quiet

Low activity expected. Solar conditions are currently quiet. Chances of aurora visibility are low tonight.

The Kp index measures global geomagnetic disturbance on a scale of 0–9. At Kp 6+, the 326 locations on this page are potentially visible. Check your location's cloud cover for tonight's conditions.

QuietG1 stormG3Extreme

Kp index explained →

Locations sorted by tonight's cloud cover - clearest conditions first. Updated every 30 minutes.

Northern hemisphere

278 locations in range at Kp 6+.

Alaska

67°N

Alaska hub – Fairbanks and Anchorage overview

From Kp 1

Alta

66°N

Northern Norway, polar night

From Kp 1

Andenes

66°N

Andøya north tip, lighthouse, Bleik beach, Space Centre

From Kp 1

Dalvík

66°N

North Iceland, Eyjafjörður fjord, Grímsey Arctic Circle ferry

From Kp 1

Dawson City

67°N

Yukon gold rush town inside the aurora oval

From Kp 1

Denali National Park

66°N

Six-million-acre wilderness, Alaska Range, minimal light pollution

From Kp 1

Fairbanks

67°N

Alaska, auroral oval, Cleary Summit

From Kp 1

Hammerfest

67°N

Northernmost town, 70°N, polar night, Barents Sea

From Kp 1

Honningsvåg

67°N

North Cape gateway town, NATO mountain viewpoint

From Kp 1

Húsavík

66°N

North Iceland, Skjálfandi Bay

From Kp 1

Ilulissat

72°N

UNESCO Icefjord, icebergs and aurora

From Kp 1

Iqaluit

68°N

Nunavut capital, fly-in only, deep polar night

From Kp 1

Ísafjörður

67°N

Westfjords capital, deep fjord, Dynjandi waterfall

From Kp 1

Kangerlussuaq

70°N

Clearest skies in Greenland, tundra dark sky

From Kp 1

Kvaløya

66°N

Tromsø island, Kattfjordeidet headland

From Kp 1

Lyngen Alps

66°N

Alpine fjord scenery, 70°N

From Kp 1

Lyngseidet

66°N

Lyngenfjord ferry terminal, Lyngen Alps backdrop

From Kp 1

Mehamn

67°N

Barents Sea coast, Slettnes Lighthouse, polar night

From Kp 1

Nordkapp

67°N

Europe's northernmost accessible point, Magerøya plateau

From Kp 1

Nuuk

67°N

Greenland capital, Nuup Kangerlua fjord

From Kp 1

Senja

66°N

Island of contrasts, dramatic coastline

From Kp 1

Siglufjörður

66°N

Northernmost mainland fjord town, former herring capital

From Kp 1

Sommarøy

66°N

Island west of Tromsø, Polar Ocean horizon, Rebbenesøya

From Kp 1

Svalbard

75°N

Inside the auroral oval year-round

From Kp 1

Tromsø

66°N

World's aurora capital

From Kp 1

Tromsvik

66°N

Mainland north of Tromsø, Arctic Ocean views, Ullsfjorden

From Kp 1

Vardø

66°N

Norway's easternmost town, Barents Sea, Bortle Class 1

From Kp 1

Vesterålen

66°N

Island group north of Lofoten, Andøya, Bleik beach

From Kp 1

Westfjords

67°N

Iceland's most remote, darkest region

From Kp 1

Wood Buffalo National Park

65°N

World's largest Dark Sky Preserve, NWT-Alberta border

From Kp 1

Yellowknife

67°N

Aurora capital of North America

From Kp 1

Å i Lofoten

65°N

Lofoten's southwestern tip, preserved fishing village

From Kp 2

Abisko

65°N

Sweden's aurora capital, cloudless micro-climate

From Kp 2

Akranes

65°N

45 min from Reykjavik, peninsula lighthouse, Faxaflói bay

From Kp 2

Akureyri

66°N

North Iceland, Lake Mývatn

From Kp 1-2

Anchorage

63°N

Alaska, Kp 2 from the Chugach Range

From Kp 2

Bodø

64°N

Above Arctic Circle, Lofoten gateway

From Kp 2

Borgarnes

65°N

75 minutes from Reykjavik, fjord views, Snæfellsnes gateway

From Kp 2

Churchill

64°N

Sub-Arctic Manitoba, auroral oval

From Kp 2

Egilsstaðir

65°N

East Iceland, Lagarfljót lake, clear skies

From Kp 2

Finnish Lapland

64°N

Aurora belt above 68°N, Saariselkä, Levi, Ivalo hub

From Kp 2

Finnsnes

66°N

Senja gateway, Gisund strait, 80 km south of Tromsø

From Kp 1-2

Gällivare

64°N

Dundret fell, less-visited Lapland

From Kp 2

Golden Circle

65°N

Þingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss

From Kp 2

Harstad

66°N

Hinnøya island, Vesterålen gateway, Trondenes peninsula

From Kp 2

Henningsvær

65°N

Island-village harbour, Festvågen headland, Lofoten

From Kp 2

Höfn

64°N

Southeast Iceland, glacier gateway, Vestrahorn mountain

From Kp 2

Inari

65°N

Finland's Sámi cultural capital, Lake Inari

From Kp 2

Ivalo

65°N

Finland's northernmost town at 69°N

From Kp 2

Jokkmokk

63°N

Sámi cultural town, winter market since 1605

From Kp 2

Jökulsárlón

64°N

Glacial lagoon, south coast

From Kp 2

Jukkasjärvi

64°N

ICEHOTEL on the Torne River

From Kp 2

Kautokeino

65°N

Finnmarksvidda plateau, Bortle Class 1, Sámi heartland

From Kp 2

Kilpisjärvi

65°N

Finland's far northwestern arm, three-country border, exceptional clear-sky microclimate

From Kp 2

Kirkenes

65°N

Russian border, east Finnmark, clear sky advantage

From Kp 2

Kirkjufell

66°N

Iceland's most photographed mountain, Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall

From Kp 2

Kiruna

64°N

ICEHOTEL and Swedish Lapland aurora

From Kp 2

Kittilä

64°N

Direct flights, gateway to Levi

From Kp 2

Landmannalaugar

64°N

Rhyolite highland, Bortle Class 1

From Kp 2

Leknes

65°N

Central Lofoten base, Unstad beach, Eggum coast

From Kp 2

Levi

64°N

Lapland ski resort, glass igloos

From Kp 2

Lofoten Islands

65°N

Dramatic coastline and dark skies

From Kp 2

Luleå

62°N

Swedish Lapland's coastal gateway, archipelago dark sky

From Kp 2

Luosto

63°N

Purpose-built aurora resort

From Kp 2

Muonio

64°N

Gateway to Levi and Pallas-Yllästunturi, aurora-camp lodges

From Kp 2

Mývatn

66°N

Volcanic lake, pseudocraters, Dimmuborgir lava fields

From Kp 2

Narvik

65°N

Arctic port city, Ofoten fjord, Narvikfjellet gondola

From Kp 2

Pyhä

63°N

Pyhä-Luosto National Park, glass-igloo resorts

From Kp 2

Reine

65°N

Moskenesøya peaks, Reinebringen summit, Kirkefjord rorbuer

From Kp 2

Reykjavik

65°N

Capital, Grótta lighthouse area

From Kp 2

Rovaniemi

62°N

Gateway to Finnish Lapland

From Kp 2

Saariselkä

64°N

Finland's best dark-sky area

From Kp 2

Selfoss

64°N

South Iceland, Golden Circle gateway

From Kp 2

Shetland Islands

59°N

Scotland's northernmost islands

From Kp 2

Skaftafell

64°N

Vatnajökull National Park, Svartifoss, near Jökulsárlón

From Kp 2

Snæfellsbær

66°N

Grundarfjörður and Ólafsvík, Snæfellsnes coast

From Kp 2

Snæfellsnes

66°N

Glacier peninsula, Kirkjufell mountain

From Kp 2

Stykkishólmur

66°N

Snæfellsnes north coast, Breiðafjörður bay reflections

From Kp 2

Svolvær

65°N

Lofoten hub, Svolværgeita peaks, Kabelvåg harbour

From Kp 2

Tärnaby/Hemavan

63°N

Western Swedish Lapland ski resorts, Vindelfjällen wilderness

From Kp 2

Vestmannaeyjar

64°N

Westman Islands, ferry from Landeyjahöfn, Eldfell volcano

From Kp 2

Vík

64°N

Reynisfjara black sand beach

From Kp 2

Vopnafjörður

66°N

Northeast Iceland, Bortle Class 1 fjord

From Kp 2

Whitehorse

64°N

Yukon, dark skies and wilderness lodges

From Kp 2

Ylläs

64°N

Finland's highest fell at 718 m

From Kp 2

Þingvellir

65°N

UNESCO rift valley, Golden Circle, 45 min from Reykjavik

From Kp 2

Þórsmörk

64°N

Highland valley, seasonal access only

From Kp 2

Aberdeen

56°N

North-east Scotland, coastal dark sky

From Kp 3

Ålesund

60°N

Art Nouveau coast, fjord archipelago

From Kp 3

Aviemore

56°N

Cairngorm plateau at 635m, Loch Morlich, Rothiemurchus

From Kp 3

Banff

56°N

Rocky Mountains, high-altitude dark sky

From Kp 3

Bergen

58°N

Gateway to the fjords

From Kp 3

Cairngorms

56°N

Dark-sky plateau above 1 000 m

From Kp 3

Calgary

56°N

Alberta, Ghost Reservoir and Kananaskis foothills

From Kp 3

Dundee

55°N

Angus coast, north-facing dark sky

From Kp 3

Edmonton

58°N

Alberta, Elk Island Dark Sky Preserve, 60°N magnetic

From Kp 3

Eiði

61°N

Risin og Kellingin sea stacks

From Kp 3

Fort Augustus

56°N

South end of Loch Ness, Great Glen dark sky

From Kp 3

Fort William

56°N

Gateway to the Great Glen and Nevis range

From Kp 3

Gásadalur

61°N

Múlafossur waterfall, clifftop village

From Kp 3

Helsinki

56°N

Finnish capital

From Kp 3

Inverness

56°N

Highland capital, dark-sky glens nearby

From Kp 3

Isle of Coll

56°N

IDA Dark Sky Community since 2013, flat open horizons

From Kp 3

Isle of Lewis

57°N

Callanish Standing Stones, Butt of Lewis

From Kp 3

Isle of Skye

56°N

Remote Highland island with clear north skies

From Kp 3

Jasper

57°N

Dark Sky Preserve, Alberta Rockies

From Kp 3

Keweenaw Peninsula

53°N

Michigan's UP, Brockway Mountain, Copper Harbor

From Kp 3

Kristiansund

61°N

Atlantic coast, Grip island dark sky

From Kp 3

Lahemaa National Park

56°N

Käsmu peninsula and Altja coast, Bortle Class 2, Gulf of Finland

From Kp 3

Lake Louise

56°N

Banff National Park, Moraine Lake and Icefields Parkway

From Kp 3

Molde

60°N

City of roses, Romsdal fjord aurora

From Kp 3

North Coast 500

57°N

Durness, Strathy Point — north-coast dark sky circuit

From Kp 3

Oban

56°N

Argyll coast, Ganavan Sands, Loch Etive dark sky

From Kp 3

Orkney Islands

58°N

Dark-sky archipelago north of mainland Scotland

From Kp 3

Oslo

57°N

Norwegian capital

From Kp 3

Outer Hebrides

57°N

Callanish, Luskentyre, Bortle Class 1-2

From Kp 3

Perth

55°N

Kinnoull Hill, Loch Tummel, Glen Lyon dark sky

From Kp 3

Pitlochry

56°N

Highland Perthshire, Loch Tummel, Ben Vrackie moorland

From Kp 3

Prince George

58°N

Northern BC, dark boreal forest

From Kp 3

Saaremaa

55°N

Estonia's largest island, Harilaid Bortle Class 2, Angla windmills

From Kp 3

Saskatoon

57°N

Saskatchewan's largest city, prairie dark sky

From Kp 3

Scotland

56°N

Scotland aurora hub — Shetland to Galloway

From Kp 3

Scottish Highlands

57°N

Glen Affric, Torridon, Assynt — remote Bortle 2 glens

From Kp 3

Sognefjord

59°N

Norway's longest fjord, Flåm and Balestrand

From Kp 3

Stavanger

57°N

Norway's 4th-largest city, Jæren coast

From Kp 3

Stockholm

56°N

Swedish capital, strong storms only

From Kp 3

Tallinn

55°N

Lahemaa coast and Paldiski Peninsula

From Kp 3

Tórshavn

61°N

Capital on Streymoy, Sornfelli summit

From Kp 3

Trondheim

61°N

Norway's third-largest city, Bymarka forest and Trondheimsfjord

From Kp 3

Ullapool

57°N

Loch Broom, Achnahaird Bay, Assynt moorland dark sky

From Kp 3

Umeå

60°N

Northern Sweden, High Coast aurora

From Kp 3

Aalborg

55°N

North Jutland, Jammerbugten coast, Rebild National Park

From Kp 4

Argyll

55°N

Kilmartin Glen, Loch Awe, Sound of Jura

From Kp 4

Belfast

54°N

North Antrim coast 1 hour away

From Kp 4

Cape Kolka

54°N

Northernmost Latvia, Slītere National Park, Bortle Class 2

From Kp 4

Carlisle

54°N

Solway Firth and Eden Valley

From Kp 4

Dumfries & Galloway

54°N

Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park

From Kp 4

Durham

54°N

North Pennines AONB dark sky

From Kp 4

Edinburgh

55°N

Pentland Hills and East Lothian dark sky

From Kp 4

Galloway Forest

54°N

UK's first Dark Sky Park, IDA Gold Tier

From Kp 4

Glasgow

55°N

Loch Lomond dark sky 30 minutes north

From Kp 4

Isle of Arran

55°N

Firth of Clyde island, west coast open horizons

From Kp 4

Isle of Man

53°N

Point of Ayre and Maughold Head, Irish Sea dark sky

From Kp 4

Jūrmala

53°N

Gulf of Riga beach resort, 20 minutes from Riga by train

From Kp 4

Kielder Forest

54°N

England's largest Dark Sky Park, Kielder Observatory

From Kp 4

Malin Head

55°N

Ireland's most northerly point, County Donegal

From Kp 4

Mayo

54°N

Achill Island, Mullet Peninsula, Wild Atlantic Way

From Kp 4

Narva

55°N

Estonian-Russian border, twin castles, Narva-Jõesuu beach

From Kp 3-4

Newcastle

54°N

Northumberland dark sky 40 minutes west

From Kp 4

Northern Ireland

54°N

All Northern Ireland locations

From Kp 4

Northumberland

54°N

Hadrian's Wall and Holy Island, North-East England

From Kp 4

Ontario

51°N

Canada's most populous province - Killarney and Algonquin dark sky

From Kp 4

Pärnu

55°N

Gulf of Riga resort, north beach dark sky, Kihnu island ferry

From Kp 4

Scottish Borders

54°N

Moorfoot Hills, Cheviot Hills, St Mary's Loch dark sky

From Kp 4

Sigulda

53°N

Gauja National Park, Turaida Castle, sandstone valley dark sky

From Kp 4

Skagen

55°N

Denmark's northernmost tip, Grenen headland

From Kp 3-4

Sligo

54°N

Mullaghmore Head, Ben Bulben, Atlantic coast

From Kp 4

Stirling

55°N

Loch Lomond and Trossachs on the doorstep

From Kp 3-4

Sunderland

54°N

Northumberland coast and fells

From Kp 4

Thunder Bay

54°N

Northwestern Ontario, Lake Superior north shore

From Kp 4

Tofino

53°N

Vancouver Island outer coast, Long Beach, Pacific Rim NP

From Kp 4

Vancouver

53°N

BC coast, Golden Ears and Manning Provincial Park

From Kp 4

Winnipeg

55°N

Manitoba prairie capital, Lake Winnipeg dark sky

From Kp 3-4

Wisconsin

52°N

Apostle Islands, Lake Superior north shore

From Kp 4

Yorkshire Dales

53°N

Ribblehead Viaduct, Malham Cove Dark Sky Discovery Site

From Kp 4

Anglesey

52°N

South Stack, Newborough Warren, Holy Island dark sky

From Kp 5

Antrim

54°N

North Antrim coast and Dark Hedges

From Kp 5

Birmingham

51°N

Cannock Chase dark sky 30 minutes north

From Kp 5

Bornholm

52°N

Baltic island, Hammerknuden north coast, Denmark's darkest island

From Kp 5

Cambridge

51°N

Fens and north Norfolk coast

From Kp 5

Clare

53°N

Loop Head Peninsula, Cliffs of Moher, Burren Dark Sky

From Kp 5

Copenhagen

53°N

North Zealand coast and Odsherred Peninsula

From Kp 4-5

Derby

52°N

Peak District 30 minutes north

From Kp 5

Derry

54°N

Inishowen Peninsula dark sky

From Kp 5

Donegal

54°N

Northernmost county, Malin Head dark sky

From Kp 5

Dublin

53°N

Irish capital, strong storms needed

From Kp 5

Duluth

52°N

Lake Superior north shore, Hawk Ridge

From Kp 5

Elan Valley

51°N

IDA Silver Dark Sky Park, reservoir valley near Rhayader

From Kp 5

Flensburg

52°N

Germany's northernmost city, Flensburg Fjord and Holnis peninsula

From Kp 5

Galway

53°N

West coast, Connemara dark sky

From Kp 5

Gdańsk

51°N

Baltic port city, Hel Peninsula north-facing coast

From Kp 5

Glacier National Park

53°N

Montana, 55°N magnetic, Glacier NP Bortle 2 dark sky

From Kp 5

Great Falls

52°N

North-central Montana, Missouri River plains

From Kp 5

Hamburg

51°N

North Sea and Baltic coast access

From Kp 5

Hull

52°N

Flamborough Head and Holderness coast north-facing dark sky

From Kp 5

Illinois

47°N

Nachusa Grasslands and Shawnee NF dark sky

From Kp 5

Kerry

52°N

Iveragh Peninsula, Valentia Island, Atlantic coast

From Kp 5

Klaipėda

52°N

Baltic coast city, Curonian Spit UNESCO dunes

From Kp 5

Lake District

53°N

Ennerdale Water and Wastwater, Bortle 2 lake reflections

From Kp 5

Lancaster

53°N

Forest of Bowland dark sky

From Kp 5

Leeds

53°N

Yorkshire Dales 45 minutes north

From Kp 5

Leicester

51°N

Rutland Water and Charnwood Forest

From Kp 5

Lincoln

52°N

Lincolnshire Wolds, low light pollution

From Kp 5

Liverpool

52°N

Anglesey and Forest of Bowland

From Kp 5

Manchester

52°N

Peak District and Forest of Bowland

From Kp 5

Marquette

52°N

Upper Peninsula, Presque Isle on Lake Superior

From Kp 5

Masurian Lakes

50°N

Northeast Poland, darkest region in central Europe

From Kp 5

Michigan Upper Peninsula

52°N

Upper Peninsula, dark sky on Lake Superior

From Kp 5

Minnesota

53°N

Boundary Waters, best dark sky in the northern lower 48

From Kp 5

Montana

53°N

Glacier NP, Rocky Mountain aurora

From Kp 4-5

New Hampshire

50°N

Coos County, Connecticut Lakes area

From Kp 5

New York

49°N

Adirondacks – Bortle 2, largest wilderness east of Mississippi

From Kp 5

Nida

52°N

Curonian Spit UNESCO, Parnidis Dune Bortle Class 2-3

From Kp 5

Norfolk

51°N

Holkham Beach and Blakeney Point, north Norfolk coast

From Kp 5

North Bay

52°N

Northern Ontario, Marten River dark sky, Lake Nipissing

From Kp 5

North Dakota

52°N

Theodore Roosevelt NP, flat prairie horizon

From Kp 5

North York Moors

53°N

Urra Moor, Robin Hood's Bay, north Yorkshire dark sky

From Kp 5

Norwich

51°N

Norfolk coast and the Broads

From Kp 5

Nottingham

52°N

Sherwood Forest and Rutland Water

From Kp 5

Peak District

52°N

Stanage Edge and Kinder Scout, central England dark sky

From Kp 5

Quebec City

52°N

Quebec, Charlevoix biosphere and Laurentides reserve

From Kp 5

Riga

53°N

Cape Kolka and Gauja National Park

From Kp 4-5

Rügen

52°N

Kap Arkona lighthouse and Königsstuhl chalk cliffs

From Kp 5

Seattle

52°N

Pacific Northwest, Hurricane Ridge and Cascades

From Kp 5

Sheffield

52°N

Peak District dark sky on the doorstep

From Kp 5

Šiauliai

52°N

Hill of Crosses foreground, northern Lithuania dark sky

From Kp 5

South Dakota

49°N

Badlands NP and Black Hills, Bortle 1-2 dark sky

From Kp 5

Sudbury

52°N

Northern Ontario, 55°N magnetic, Killarney Provincial Park

From Kp 5

Texel

51°N

Wadden Sea island, darkest north-facing Dutch coast

From Kp 5

Vilnius

51°N

Lithuania's capital, Molėtai Observatory, Aukštaitija National Park

From Kp 5

Wales

51°N

All Wales locations with local forecasts

From Kp 5

Washington State

53°N

Okanogan Highlands and North Cascades

From Kp 5

Whitefish

53°N

Glacier National Park gateway, NW Montana

From Kp 4-5

Wicklow

52°N

Wicklow Mountains, closest dark sky to Dublin

From Kp 5

Wyoming

49°N

Yellowstone and Grand Teton at 2 000 m

From Kp 5

Yellowstone

50°N

Lamar Valley and Mammoth, winter-accessible dark sky

From Kp 5

York

53°N

North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales within an hour

From Kp 5

Yorkshire

53°N

North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales

From Kp 5

Amsterdam

51°N

North Holland coast and Wadden Sea islands

From Kp 5-6

Berlin

50°N

Müritz and Schorfheide dark-sky areas

From Kp 6

Bozeman

51°N

Gallatin Valley, Yellowstone gateway, Montana

From Kp 5-6

Brecon Beacons

51°N

Bannau Brycheiniog Dark Sky Reserve

From Kp 6

Brighton

50°N

South Downs dark sky, storms only

From Kp 6

Bristol

50°N

Mendip Hills and Exmoor, storms only

From Kp 5-6

Burlington

50°N

Lake Champlain, Vermont's largest city

From Kp 6

Cardiff

51°N

Brecon Beacons 1 hour north, storms only

From Kp 5-6

Colorado

45°N

Great Sand Dunes NP, Dark Sky Park at 2340 m

From Kp 6

Cork

51°N

Southernmost, Mizen Head peninsula

From Kp 6

Cornwall

50°N

Bodmin Moor Dark Sky Landscape, Atlantic north coast

From Kp 6

Devon

50°N

Dartmoor International Dark Sky Reserve, Bortle 2

From Kp 6

Exmoor Dark Sky Reserve

50°N

Europe's first International Dark Sky Reserve, Bortle Class 2

From Kp 6

Hokkaido

38°N

Japan's northern island, ~37° magnetic, Shiretoko Peninsula

From Kp 6

Idaho

48°N

Craters of the Moon Dark Sky Park

From Kp 6

Indiana

45°N

Indiana Dunes NP and Hoosier NF dark sky

From Kp 6

Iowa

47°N

Yellow River SF and Loess Hills – Driftless dark sky

From Kp 6

Kansas

43°N

Cimarron Grassland – flat prairie horizon, Bortle 2

From Kp 6

Kentucky

44°N

Land Between the Lakes – lake peninsula dark sky

From Kp 6

London

50°N

UK capital, major storms only

From Kp 6

Maine

49°N

Acadia NP, dark-sky New England coast

From Kp 6

Maryland

45°N

Garrett County and Assateague Island dark sky

From Kp 6

Massachusetts

48°N

Mount Greylock and Cape Cod dark sky

From Kp 6

Minneapolis

50°N

Twin Cities, Boundary Waters 4 hrs north

From Kp 6

Missouri

45°N

Ozark Riverways Bortle 2 – Current River corridor

From Kp 6

Mont-Mégantic

50°N

World's first International Dark Sky Reserve, Eastern Townships

From Kp 5-6

Nebraska

47°N

Sandhills – Bortle 2 over vast area

From Kp 6

New Jersey

46°N

Pine Barrens and High Point SP dark sky

From Kp 6

Nova Scotia

50°N

Atlantic Canada, Kejimkujik Gold Tier Dark Sky Preserve

From Kp 6

Ohio

45°N

Hocking Hills and Wayne NF – Kp 4, Lake Erie horizon

From Kp 6

Oregon

47°N

Alvord Desert Bortle 1-2, Crater Lake

From Kp 6

Oxford

51°N

Chilterns AONB, storms only

From Kp 5-6

Pembrokeshire

51°N

West Wales, minimal light pollution coast

From Kp 6

Pennsylvania

46°N

Cherry Springs SP Bortle 1 – best dark sky in the east

From Kp 6

Portland

49°N

Maine, Cape Elizabeth coast, Acadia 3 hrs north

From Kp 6

Portland, Oregon

50°N

Oregon, Rowena Crest and Columbia River Gorge

From Kp 6

Rebun Island

40°N

Japan's northernmost inhabited island, Sukoton Cape, Bortle 1-2

From Kp 6

Rishiri Island

39°N

Rishiri-Fuji volcano, Otatomari Pond reflection, Bortle 1-2

From Kp 6

Rotterdam

50°N

South Holland and Zeeland coast

From Kp 6

Saint John

50°N

New Brunswick, Fundy Trail Parkway and Fundy National Park

From Kp 6

Snowdonia

52°N

Eryri Dark Sky Reserve, Kp 6 needed

From Kp 6

Southampton

50°N

New Forest dark sky, storms only

From Kp 6

Šumava National Park

46°N

Bohemian Forest, Bortle Class 2-3, elevated plateau

From Kp 6

Tennessee

42°N

Roan Mountain 1916 m and Big South Fork

From Kp 6

Utah

46°N

Bryce Canyon and Natural Bridges Dark Sky Parks

From Kp 6

Vermont

50°N

Northeast Kingdom, Bortle 2-3 near Quebec

From Kp 6

Virginia

43°N

Grayson Highlands 1700 m and Shenandoah NP

From Kp 6

Wakkanai

40°N

Japan's northernmost city, Cape Soya, best aurora position

From Kp 6

Washington DC

44°N

DC metro – Shenandoah NP 80 miles

From Kp 6

West Virginia

44°N

Spruce Knob 1482 m and Dolly Sods high plateau

From Kp 6

Southern hemisphere

Aurora australis locations in range at Kp 6+. 48 locations.

Stewart Island

55°S

Rakiura, NZ's southernmost inhabited island

From Kp 3

The Catlins

54°S

Nugget Point, Curio Bay, Slope Point - rural south coast

From Kp 3

Bruny Island

55°S

South Bruny NP, Cloudy Bay, Southern Ocean dark sky

From Kp 3-4

Cradle Mountain

53°S

Dove Lake, Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area

From Kp 4

Dover

55°S

Southernmost Tasmania by road, Cockle Creek, Bortle Class 1

From Kp 4

Fiordland

53°S

Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, Te Anau

From Kp 4

Gore

54°S

Southland, Dolamore Park, Hokonui Hills dark sky

From Kp 4

Hobart

55°S

Tasmania, Australia's lowest aurora threshold

From Kp 4

Invercargill

54°S

NZ's southernmost city, Oreti Beach, Bluff, Foveaux Strait

From Kp 4

Strahan

54°S

West Tasmania, Ocean Beach, Bortle Class 1-2 dark sky

From Kp 4

Tasmania

55°S

Australia's best aurora state - Hobart, Cradle Mountain, Launceston

From Kp 3-4

Te Anau

53°S

Fiordland gateway, Lake Manapouri, Bortle Class 1-2

From Kp 4

Aoraki/Mount Cook Village

51°S

NZ's highest peak, within the Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve

From Kp 5

Devonport

53°S

North Tasmania ferry port, Cradle Mountain 90 min drive

From Kp 5

Dunedin

53°S

Otago Peninsula south coast

From Kp 4-5

Lake Tekapo

51°S

Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve

From Kp 5

Launceston

53°S

Northern Tasmania, Ben Lomond alpine dark sky

From Kp 4-5

Milford Sound

52°S

Fiordland, Piopiotahi, Mirror Lakes, Homer Tunnel

From Kp 5

Oamaru

52°S

Waitaki Valley, Elephant Rocks, Aoraki Mackenzie DSR gateway

From Kp 5

Queenstown

53°S

Remarkables range, dark sky south of town

From Kp 5

St Helens

53°S

Bay of Fires, Mount William NP, northeast Tasmania

From Kp 5

Timaru

51°S

South Canterbury coast, Pareora Gorge, Caroline Bay

From Kp 5

Torres del Paine

40°S

Granite towers and glacial lakes, darkest sky in the region

From Kp 5

Wānaka

52°S

Lone willow tree, Lake Wānaka

From Kp 5

Adelaide

48°S

Fleurieu Peninsula Deep Creek, Kangaroo Island south coast

From Kp 6

Albany

49°S

WA's best aurora position, Torndirrup NP, Southern Ocean

From Kp 6

Bairnsdale

49°S

Gippsland gateway, Croajingolong NP, darkest Victoria

From Kp 6

Ballarat

50°S

Victorian goldfields, Creswick and Pyrenees dark sky

From Kp 6

Ceduna

45°S

South Australia's remotest dark sky, Nullarbor Plain

From Kp 6

Christchurch

50°S

Lake Tekapo Dark Sky Reserve nearby

From Kp 6

El Calafate

39°S

Perito Moreno Glacier, Lake Argentino

From Kp 6

Esperance

48°S

Cape Le Grand NP, Lucky Bay, remote WA south coast

From Kp 6

Falls Creek

48°S

Victorian Alps, Bogong High Plains at 1 600 m

From Kp 6

Kaikōura

49°S

Marlborough coast, Ohau Point, Kaikōura Peninsula

From Kp 6

Kangaroo Island

49°S

Remarkable Rocks, south coast dark sky

From Kp 6

Melbourne

50°S

Point Nepean and Wilson's Promontory

From Kp 6

Mount Gambier

50°S

South Australia, Canunda NP south coast

From Kp 6

Nelson

48°S

Top of the South, Nelson Lakes NP, Murchison dark sky

From Kp 6

New South Wales

48°S

Eden south coast, Sapphire Coast, Kosciuszko

From Kp 6

Port Lincoln

48°S

Eyre Peninsula, Lincoln and Coffin Bay national parks

From Kp 6

Punta Arenas

42°S

Strait of Magellan, gateway to Torres del Paine and Antarctica

From Kp 6

South Australia

49°S

Coorong, Limestone Coast, Fleurieu Peninsula south coast

From Kp 6

Sydney

45°S

Royal National Park coast, Kp 7+ needed, rare events

From Kp 6

Ushuaia

43°S

World's southernmost city, Beagle Channel

From Kp 6

Victoria

51°S

Wilsons Promontory, Great Ocean Road, Victorian Alps

From Kp 5-6

Warrnambool

51°S

Great Ocean Road coast, Port Campbell and Cape Otway

From Kp 5-6

Western Australia

49°S

Albany, Esperance, Fitzgerald River NP south coast

From Kp 6

Westport

49°S

West Coast, Cape Foulwind, Punakaiki, Paparoa NP

From Kp 6
Common questions

Kp 6 aurora - FAQ

Everything you need to know about aurora visibility at Kp 6.

Can you see aurora in southern England at Kp 6?
Yes, on a clear night. London, Bristol, and the south coast are all within range at Kp 6, though light pollution makes it difficult in built-up areas. The South Downs, Exmoor, and Dartmoor provide dark sky access. A north-facing horizon away from lights is essential. The aurora will typically appear as a low red or green glow, not the dramatic curtains seen at higher latitudes.
What is a G2 geomagnetic storm?
G2 is the second level on the NOAA storm scale, corresponding to Kp 6. G2 storms can cause voltage fluctuations in power systems at high latitudes and affect satellite operations. For aurora watchers, G2 is the first level where aurora becomes routinely visible across much of the UK, Ireland, and northern and central Europe.
Where in Europe can you see aurora at Kp 6?
Most of northern and central Europe is in range at Kp 6. Confirmed sightings during Kp 6 events have come from Germany, Poland, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and the Czech Republic. Cities well away from light pollution are better positioned. In the UK, anywhere from northern Scotland down to southern England can produce aurora at Kp 6 from a dark location.
Can you see aurora in the USA at Kp 6?
Yes. The northern US states - Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Montana, Washington, and New England - are all comfortably in range at Kp 6. Further south, states like New York, Pennsylvania, and Idaho can see aurora at Kp 6 from dark sites. The Great Lakes shoreline is a particularly good location.
How do I prepare for a Kp 6 event?
Set up aurora alerts for your location - auroratonight.space covers UK, European, and global locations. When Kp 6 is forecast, identify the nearest dark sky location with a clear northern horizon and check the cloud cover forecast. Kp 6 events can be short-lived, so being ready to move is useful. A camera on a tripod will capture aurora that may be invisible to the naked eye from the south of England.
Sean Barraclough

Sean Barraclough

Creator of Aurora Tonight

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