Kp index Kp 9 locations
Extreme storm - worldwide

Kp 9 aurora locations

Kp 9 is the maximum level of the geomagnetic activity scale - a G5 extreme storm. At this level the aurora can be visible from almost anywhere in the world with dark skies, including locations in the southern hemisphere that never normally see aurora. The G5 storm of May 2024 was the strongest in 20 years and produced aurora visible from as far south as Mexico, Florida, Spain, and New Zealand's North Island. These events are rare - perhaps once per solar cycle - but when they arrive they are extraordinary.

Locations reachable
316
sites at Kp 9+
Storm class
G5 Extreme
geomagnetic activity
Min magnetic latitude
40°
aurora visible south of
Current Kp
1
threshold not met

Kp 9 is the maximum level on the geomagnetic scale - an extreme G5 storm. See Kp 8 locations for the level below.

What Kp 9 means tonight

Kp 9 is the maximum level of the geomagnetic activity scale - a G5 extreme storm. At this level the aurora can be visible from almost anywhere in the world with dark skies, including locations in the southern hemisphere that never normally see aurora. The G5 storm of May 2024 was the strongest in 20 years and produced aurora visible from as far south as Mexico, Florida, Spain, and New Zealand's North Island. These events are rare - perhaps once per solar cycle - but when they arrive they are extraordinary.

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 9+, the 316 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

270 locations in range at Kp 9+.

Abisko

68°N

Sweden's aurora capital, cloudless micro-climate

From Kp 1-2

Alaska

65°N

Alaska hub – Fairbanks and Anchorage overview

From Kp 1

Alta

70°N

Northern Norway, polar night

From Kp 1-2

Andenes

69°N

Andøya north tip, lighthouse, Bleik beach, Space Centre

From Kp 1-2

Bodø

67°N

Above Arctic Circle, Lofoten gateway

From Kp 1-2

Churchill

67°N

Sub-Arctic Manitoba, auroral oval

From Kp 1-2

Dawson City

65°N

Yukon gold rush town inside the aurora oval

From Kp 1-2

Fairbanks

65°N

Alaska, auroral oval, Cleary Summit

From Kp 1-2

Finnish Lapland

67°N

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

From Kp 1-2

Finnsnes

69°N

Senja gateway, Gisund strait, 80 km south of Tromsø

From Kp 1-2

Gällivare

68°N

Dundret fell, less-visited Lapland

From Kp 1-2

Hammerfest

70°N

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

From Kp 1

Harstad

69°N

Hinnøya island, Vesterålen gateway, Trondenes peninsula

From Kp 1

Honningsvåg

71°N

North Cape gateway, 71°N, Nordkapp plateau

From Kp 1

Ilulissat

72°N

UNESCO Icefjord, icebergs and aurora

From Kp 1

Ivalo

69°N

Finland's northernmost town at 69°N

From Kp 1

Jukkasjärvi

68°N

ICEHOTEL on the Torne River

From Kp 1-2

Kangerlussuaq

73°N

Clearest skies in Greenland, tundra dark sky

From Kp 1

Kautokeino

69°N

Finnmarksvidda plateau, Bortle Class 1, Sámi heartland

From Kp 1

Kirkenes

70°N

Russian border, east Finnmark, clear sky advantage

From Kp 1

Kiruna

68°N

ICEHOTEL and Swedish Lapland aurora

From Kp 1-2

Kittilä

68°N

Direct flights, gateway to Levi

From Kp 1-2

Kvaløya

70°N

Tromsø island, Kattfjordeidet headland

From Kp 1

Levi

68°N

Lapland ski resort, glass igloos

From Kp 1-2

Luosto

67°N

Purpose-built aurora resort

From Kp 1-2

Lyngen Alps

70°N

Alpine fjord scenery, 70°N

From Kp 1

Lyngseidet

70°N

Lyngenfjord ferry terminal, Lyngen Alps backdrop

From Kp 1

Mehamn

71°N

Barents Sea coast, Slettnes Lighthouse, polar night

From Kp 1

Narvik

68°N

Arctic port city, Ofoten fjord, Narvikfjellet gondola

From Kp 1-2

Nuuk

71°N

Greenland capital, Nuup Kangerlua fjord

From Kp 1

Saariselkä

68°N

Finland's best dark-sky area

From Kp 1-2

Senja

69°N

Island of contrasts, dramatic coastline

From Kp 1-2

Sommarøy

69°N

Island west of Tromsø, Polar Ocean horizon, Rebbenesøya

From Kp 1-2

Svalbard

78°N

Inside the auroral oval year-round

From Kp 1

Tromsø

70°N

World's aurora capital

From Kp 1-2

Tromsvik

70°N

Mainland north of Tromsø, Arctic Ocean views, Ullsfjorden

From Kp 1-2

Vardø

70°N

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

From Kp 1

Vesterålen

69°N

Island group north of Lofoten, Andøya, Bleik beach

From Kp 1-2

Yellowknife

69°N

Aurora capital of North America

From Kp 1-2

Ylläs

68°N

Finland's highest fell at 718 m

From Kp 1-2

Akureyri

66°N

North Iceland, Lake Mývatn

From Kp 2-3

Anchorage

61°N

Alaska, Kp 2 from the Chugach Range

From Kp 2-3

Borgarnes

65°N

75 minutes from Reykjavik, fjord views, Snæfellsnes gateway

From Kp 2-3

Dalvík

66°N

North Iceland, Eyjafjörður fjord, Grímsey Arctic Circle ferry

From Kp 2

Edmonton

60°N

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

From Kp 2-3

Egilsstaðir

65°N

East Iceland, Lagarfljót lake, clear skies

From Kp 2

Henningsvær

68°N

Island-village harbour, Festvågen headland, Lofoten

From Kp 2

Húsavík

66°N

North Iceland, Skjálfandi Bay

From Kp 2

Ísafjörður

66°N

Westfjords capital, deep fjord, Dynjandi waterfall

From Kp 2

Leknes

68°N

Central Lofoten base, Unstad beach, Eggum coast

From Kp 2

Lofoten Islands

68°N

Dramatic coastline and dark skies

From Kp 2-3

Mývatn

65°N

Volcanic lake, pseudocraters, Dimmuborgir lava fields

From Kp 2

Reine

68°N

Moskenesøya peaks, Reinebringen summit, Kirkefjord rorbuer

From Kp 2

Reykjavik

65°N

Capital, Grótta lighthouse area

From Kp 2-3

Rovaniemi

66°N

Gateway to Finnish Lapland

From Kp 2-3

Scotland

57°N

Scotland aurora hub — Shetland to Galloway

From Kp 2-4

Shetland Islands

61°N

Scotland's northernmost islands

From Kp 2-3

Snæfellsbær

65°N

Kirkjufell mountain, Grundarfjörður

From Kp 2-3

Snæfellsnes

65°N

Glacier peninsula, Kirkjufell mountain

From Kp 2-3

Stykkishólmur

65°N

Snæfellsnes north coast, Breiðafjörður bay reflections

From Kp 2-3

Svolvær

68°N

Lofoten hub, Svolværgeita peaks, Kabelvåg harbour

From Kp 2

Umeå

64°N

Northern Sweden, High Coast aurora

From Kp 2-3

Vopnafjörður

65°N

Northeast Iceland, Bortle Class 1 fjord

From Kp 2-3

Westfjords

66°N

Iceland's most remote, darkest region

From Kp 2

Whitehorse

63°N

Yukon, dark skies and wilderness lodges

From Kp 2-3

Aberdeen

57°N

North-east Scotland, coastal dark sky

From Kp 3-4

Akranes

64°N

45 min from Reykjavik, peninsula lighthouse, Faxaflói bay

From Kp 3

Ålesund

62°N

Art Nouveau coast, fjord archipelago

From Kp 3

Aviemore

57°N

Cairngorm plateau at 635m, Loch Morlich, Rothiemurchus

From Kp 3-4

Banff

58°N

Rocky Mountains, high-altitude dark sky

From Kp 3-4

Bergen

60°N

Gateway to the fjords

From Kp 3-4

Cairngorms

57°N

Dark-sky plateau above 1 000 m

From Kp 3-4

Calgary

57°N

Alberta, Ghost Reservoir and Kananaskis foothills

From Kp 3-4

Eiði

62°N

Risin og Kellingin sea stacks

From Kp 3

Fort Augustus

57°N

South end of Loch Ness, Great Glen dark sky

From Kp 3-4

Fort William

57°N

Gateway to the Great Glen and Nevis range

From Kp 3-4

Gásadalur

62°N

Múlafossur waterfall, clifftop village

From Kp 3

Golden Circle

64°N

Þingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss

From Kp 3-4

Helsinki

60°N

Finnish capital

From Kp 3-4

Höfn

64°N

Southeast Iceland, glacier gateway, Vestrahorn mountain

From Kp 3

Inverness

58°N

Highland capital, dark-sky glens nearby

From Kp 3-4

Isle of Lewis

58°N

Callanish Standing Stones, Butt of Lewis

From Kp 3-4

Isle of Skye

57°N

Remote Highland island with clear north skies

From Kp 3-4

Jasper

59°N

Dark Sky Preserve, Alberta Rockies

From Kp 3-4

Jökulsárlón

64°N

Glacial lagoon, south coast

From Kp 3-4

Keweenaw Peninsula

57°N

Michigan's UP, Brockway Mountain, Copper Harbor

From Kp 3

Kristiansund

63°N

Atlantic coast, Grip island dark sky

From Kp 3

Lahemaa National Park

60°N

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

From Kp 3

Lake Louise

58°N

Banff National Park, Moraine Lake and Icefields Parkway

From Kp 3-4

Landmannalaugar

64°N

Rhyolite highland, Bortle Class 1

From Kp 3

Molde

63°N

City of roses, Romsdal fjord aurora

From Kp 3

Narva

59°N

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

From Kp 3-4

North Coast 500

58°N

Durness, Strathy Point — north-coast dark sky circuit

From Kp 3

Orkney Islands

59°N

Dark-sky archipelago north of mainland Scotland

From Kp 3-4

Outer Hebrides

57°N

Callanish, Luskentyre, Bortle Class 1-2

From Kp 3-4

Pärnu

59°N

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

From Kp 3-4

Pitlochry

57°N

Highland Perthshire, Loch Tummel, Ben Vrackie moorland

From Kp 3-4

Prince George

59°N

Northern BC, dark boreal forest

From Kp 3-4

Saaremaa

58°N

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

From Kp 3-4

Scottish Highlands

58°N

Glen Affric, Torridon, Assynt — remote Bortle 2 glens

From Kp 3-4

Selfoss

64°N

South Iceland, Golden Circle gateway

From Kp 3

Skagen

58°N

Denmark's northernmost tip, Grenen headland

From Kp 3-4

Sognefjord

61°N

Norway's longest fjord, Flåm and Balestrand

From Kp 3-4

Tallinn

60°N

Lahemaa coast and Paldiski Peninsula

From Kp 3-4

Thunder Bay

57°N

Northwestern Ontario, Lake Superior north shore

From Kp 3-4

Tórshavn

62°N

Capital on Streymoy, Sornfelli summit

From Kp 3

Ullapool

58°N

Loch Broom, Achnahaird Bay, Assynt moorland dark sky

From Kp 3

Vík

64°N

Reynisfjara black sand beach

From Kp 3

Winnipeg

58°N

Manitoba prairie capital, Lake Winnipeg dark sky

From Kp 3

Þórsmörk

64°N

Highland valley, seasonal access only

From Kp 3

Aalborg

57°N

North Jutland, Jammerbugten coast, Rebild National Park

From Kp 4-5

Argyll

56°N

Kilmartin Glen, Loch Awe, Sound of Jura

From Kp 4

Bozeman

54°N

Gallatin Valley, Yellowstone gateway, Montana

From Kp 4

Burlington

53°N

Lake Champlain, Vermont's largest city

From Kp 4-5

Cape Kolka

58°N

Northernmost Latvia, Slītere National Park, Bortle Class 2

From Kp 4

Duluth

55°N

Lake Superior north shore, Hawk Ridge

From Kp 4

Dumfries & Galloway

55°N

Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park

From Kp 4-5

Dundee

56°N

Angus coast, north-facing dark sky

From Kp 4-5

Edinburgh

56°N

Pentland Hills and East Lothian dark sky

From Kp 4-5

Galloway Forest

55°N

UK's first Dark Sky Park, IDA Gold Tier

From Kp 4-5

Glasgow

55°N

Loch Lomond dark sky 30 minutes north

From Kp 4-5

Isle of Man

54°N

Point of Ayre and Maughold Head, Irish Sea dark sky

From Kp 4-5

Jūrmala

57°N

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

From Kp 4

Malin Head

55°N

Ireland's most northerly point, County Donegal

From Kp 4-5

Marquette

55°N

Upper Peninsula, Presque Isle on Lake Superior

From Kp 4

Mayo

54°N

Achill Island, Mullet Peninsula, Wild Atlantic Way

From Kp 4-5

Michigan

55°N

Upper Peninsula, dark sky on Lake Superior

From Kp 4-5

Minneapolis

55°N

Twin Cities, Boundary Waters 4 hrs north

From Kp 4

Minnesota

56°N

Boundary Waters, best dark sky in the northern lower 48

From Kp 4-5

Montana

55°N

Glacier NP, Rocky Mountain aurora

From Kp 4-5

Oban

56°N

Argyll coast, Ganavan Sands, Loch Etive dark sky

From Kp 4

Oslo

59°N

Norwegian capital

From Kp 4-5

Perth

56°N

Kinnoull Hill, Loch Tummel, Glen Lyon dark sky

From Kp 4

Riga

58°N

Cape Kolka and Gauja National Park

From Kp 4-5

Scottish Borders

55°N

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

From Kp 4-5

Seattle

54°N

Pacific Northwest, Hurricane Ridge and Cascades

From Kp 4-5

Šiauliai

56°N

Hill of Crosses foreground, northern Lithuania dark sky

From Kp 4-5

Sigulda

57°N

Gauja National Park, Turaida Castle, sandstone valley dark sky

From Kp 4

Sligo

54°N

Mullaghmore Head, Ben Bulben, Atlantic coast

From Kp 4-5

Stirling

56°N

Loch Lomond and Trossachs on the doorstep

From Kp 4-5

Stockholm

59°N

Swedish capital, strong storms only

From Kp 4-5

Tofino

54°N

Vancouver Island outer coast, Long Beach, Pacific Rim NP

From Kp 4-5

Whitefish

55°N

Glacier National Park gateway, NW Montana

From Kp 4

Wisconsin

56°N

Apostle Islands, Lake Superior north shore

From Kp 4-5

Yorkshire Dales

54°N

Ribblehead Viaduct, Malham Cove Dark Sky Discovery Site

From Kp 4-5

Anglesey

53°N

South Stack, Newborough Warren, Holy Island dark sky

From Kp 5-6

Antrim

55°N

North Antrim coast and Dark Hedges

From Kp 5-6

Belfast

54°N

North Antrim coast 1 hour away

From Kp 5-6

Bornholm

55°N

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

From Kp 5

Carlisle

55°N

Solway Firth and Eden Valley

From Kp 5-6

Clare

53°N

Loop Head Peninsula, Cliffs of Moher, Burren Dark Sky

From Kp 5

Copenhagen

56°N

North Zealand coast and Odsherred Peninsula

From Kp 5-6

Derry

54°N

Inishowen Peninsula dark sky

From Kp 5-6

Donegal

55°N

Northernmost county, Malin Head dark sky

From Kp 5

Durham

54°N

North Pennines AONB dark sky

From Kp 5-6

Flensburg

56°N

Germany's northernmost city, Flensburg Fjord and Holnis peninsula

From Kp 5

Gdańsk

54°N

Baltic port city, Hel Peninsula north-facing coast

From Kp 5

Glacier National Park

55°N

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

From Kp 5

Great Falls

54°N

North-central Montana, Missouri River plains

From Kp 5

Hamburg

56°N

North Sea and Baltic coast access

From Kp 5-6

Hull

54°N

Flamborough Head and Holderness coast north-facing dark sky

From Kp 5

Illinois

51°N

Nachusa Grasslands and Shawnee NF dark sky

From Kp 5-6

Kerry

52°N

Iveragh Peninsula, Valentia Island, Atlantic coast

From Kp 5

Klaipėda

55°N

Baltic coast city, Curonian Spit UNESCO dunes

From Kp 5

Lake District

54°N

Ennerdale Water and Wastwater, Bortle 2 lake reflections

From Kp 5

Lancaster

54°N

Forest of Bowland dark sky

From Kp 5-6

Maine

51°N

Acadia NP, dark-sky New England coast

From Kp 5-6

Masurian Lakes

54°N

Northeast Poland, darkest region in central Europe

From Kp 5

New Hampshire

52°N

Coos County, Connecticut Lakes area

From Kp 5-6

New York

52°N

Adirondacks – Bortle 2, largest wilderness east of Mississippi

From Kp 5-6

Newcastle

54°N

Northumberland dark sky 40 minutes west

From Kp 5-6

Nida

55°N

Curonian Spit UNESCO, Parnidis Dune Bortle Class 2-3

From Kp 5

Norfolk

53°N

Holkham Beach and Blakeney Point, north Norfolk coast

From Kp 5-6

North Bay

55°N

Northern Ontario, Marten River dark sky, Lake Nipissing

From Kp 5

North Dakota

55°N

Theodore Roosevelt NP, flat prairie horizon

From Kp 5

North York Moors

54°N

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

From Kp 5

Northern Ireland

54°N

All Northern Ireland locations

From Kp 5-6

Northumberland

55°N

Kielder Dark Sky Observatory

From Kp 5-6

Ontario

54°N

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

From Kp 5

Peak District

53°N

Stanage Edge and Kinder Scout, central England dark sky

From Kp 5-6

Quebec City

54°N

Quebec, Charlevoix biosphere and Laurentides reserve

From Kp 5

Rügen

55°N

Kap Arkona lighthouse and Königsstuhl chalk cliffs

From Kp 5-6

Saint John

52°N

New Brunswick, Fundy Trail Parkway and Fundy National Park

From Kp 5-6

Sudbury

55°N

Northern Ontario, 55°N magnetic, Killarney Provincial Park

From Kp 5

Sunderland

54°N

Northumberland coast and fells

From Kp 5-6

Vancouver

54°N

BC coast, Golden Ears and Manning Provincial Park

From Kp 5

Vermont

52°N

Northeast Kingdom, Bortle 2-3 near Quebec

From Kp 5-6

Vilnius

54°N

Lithuania's capital, Molėtai Observatory, Aukštaitija National Park

From Kp 5

Washington

54°N

Okanogan Highlands and North Cascades

From Kp 5-6

Wicklow

53°N

Wicklow Mountains, closest dark sky to Dublin

From Kp 5

Wyoming

51°N

Yellowstone and Grand Teton at 2 000 m

From Kp 5-6

York

54°N

North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales within an hour

From Kp 5

Amsterdam

54°N

North Holland coast and Wadden Sea islands

From Kp 6-7

Berlin

54°N

Müritz and Schorfheide dark-sky areas

From Kp 6-7

Birmingham

52°N

Cannock Chase dark sky 30 minutes north

From Kp 6-7

Brecon Beacons

52°N

Bannau Brycheiniog Dark Sky Reserve

From Kp 6-7

Cambridge

52°N

Fens and north Norfolk coast

From Kp 6-7

Colorado

48°N

Great Sand Dunes NP, Dark Sky Park at 2340 m

From Kp 6-7

Cork

52°N

Southernmost, Mizen Head peninsula

From Kp 6-7

Cornwall

50°N

Bodmin Moor Dark Sky Landscape, Atlantic north coast

From Kp 6-7

Derby

52°N

Peak District 30 minutes north

From Kp 6-7

Devon

51°N

Dartmoor International Dark Sky Reserve, Bortle 2

From Kp 6-7

Dublin

53°N

Irish capital, strong storms needed

From Kp 6-7

Exmoor Dark Sky Reserve

51°N

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

From Kp 6-7

Galway

53°N

West coast, Connemara dark sky

From Kp 6-7

Idaho

50°N

Craters of the Moon Dark Sky Park

From Kp 6

Indiana

49°N

Indiana Dunes NP and Hoosier NF dark sky

From Kp 6

Iowa

51°N

Yellow River SF and Loess Hills – Driftless dark sky

From Kp 6

Kansas

47°N

Cimarron Grassland – flat prairie horizon, Bortle 2

From Kp 6-7

Kentucky

48°N

Land Between the Lakes – lake peninsula dark sky

From Kp 6-7

Leeds

53°N

Yorkshire Dales 45 minutes north

From Kp 6-7

Leicester

52°N

Rutland Water and Charnwood Forest

From Kp 6-7

Lincoln

53°N

Lincolnshire Wolds, low light pollution

From Kp 6-7

Liverpool

53°N

Anglesey and Forest of Bowland

From Kp 6-7

Manchester

53°N

Peak District and Forest of Bowland

From Kp 6-7

Maryland

48°N

Garrett County and Assateague Island dark sky

From Kp 6-7

Massachusetts

50°N

Mount Greylock and Cape Cod dark sky

From Kp 6

Missouri

48°N

Ozark Riverways Bortle 2 – Current River corridor

From Kp 6

Nebraska

50°N

Sandhills – Bortle 2 over vast area

From Kp 6

New Jersey

49°N

Pine Barrens and High Point SP dark sky

From Kp 6

Norwich

52°N

Norfolk coast and the Broads

From Kp 6-7

Nottingham

52°N

Sherwood Forest and Rutland Water

From Kp 6-7

Nova Scotia

51°N

Atlantic Canada, Kejimkujik Gold Tier Dark Sky Preserve

From Kp 6

Ohio

49°N

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

From Kp 6

Oregon

49°N

Alvord Desert Bortle 1-2, Crater Lake

From Kp 6

Pembrokeshire

52°N

West Wales, minimal light pollution coast

From Kp 6-7

Pennsylvania

49°N

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

From Kp 6

Portland

51°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

Rotterdam

54°N

South Holland and Zeeland coast

From Kp 6-7

Sheffield

53°N

Peak District dark sky on the doorstep

From Kp 6-7

Snowdonia

53°N

Eryri Dark Sky Reserve, Kp 6 needed

From Kp 6-7

Šumava National Park

50°N

Bohemian Forest, Bortle Class 2-3, elevated plateau

From Kp 6-7

Tennessee

46°N

Roan Mountain 1916 m and Big South Fork

From Kp 6-7

Texel

53°N

Wadden Sea island, darkest north-facing Dutch coast

From Kp 6

Utah

48°N

Bryce Canyon and Natural Bridges Dark Sky Parks

From Kp 6-7

Virginia

46°N

Grayson Highlands 1700 m and Shenandoah NP

From Kp 6-7

Wales overview

52°N

All Wales locations with local forecasts

From Kp 6-7

Washington DC

47°N

DC metro – Shenandoah NP 80 miles

From Kp 6-7

Yorkshire

53°N

North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales

From Kp 6-7

Alabama

43°N

Little River Canyon and Bankhead NF dark sky

From Kp 7

Arizona

40°N

Kitt Peak Bortle 1 and Flagstaff Dark Sky City

From Kp 7-8

Arkansas

44°N

Ozarks – Buffalo National River, Bortle 2

From Kp 7

Brighton

50°N

South Downs dark sky, storms only

From Kp 7-8

Bristol

51°N

Mendip Hills and Exmoor, storms only

From Kp 7-8

California

43°N

Lassen Volcanic NP and Point Arena coast

From Kp 7

Cardiff

51°N

Brecon Beacons 1 hour north, storms only

From Kp 7-8

Carpathian Mountains

46°N

Retezat and Piatra Craiului, darkest skies in Romania

From Kp 7-8

Georgia

43°N

Blue Ridge mountains, Kp 7 from northern GA dark sky

From Kp 7

London

51°N

UK capital, major storms only

From Kp 7-8

North Carolina

45°N

Blue Ridge Parkway – Waterrock Knob 1934 m

From Kp 7

Oklahoma

44°N

Wichita Mountains and Black Mesa Panhandle

From Kp 7

Oxford

51°N

Chilterns AONB, storms only

From Kp 7-8

Rebun Island

39°N

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

From Kp 7-8

Rishiri Island

39°N

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

From Kp 7-8

Southampton

50°N

New Forest dark sky, storms only

From Kp 7-8

Texas

42°N

McDonald Observatory Bortle 1 and Big Bend NP

From Kp 7-8

Wakkanai

39°N

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

From Kp 7-8

Abashiri

37°N

Northeast Hokkaido, Sea of Okhotsk, drift ice coast

From Kp 8-9

Biei

37°N

Rolling farmland, patchwork hills, Shirogane Onsen dark sky

From Kp 8-9

Daisetsuzan

37°N

Japan's largest national park, Asahidake ropeway to 1,600 m

From Kp 8-9

Furano

37°N

Central Hokkaido, Tokachi-dake volcanic area, Bortle 2

From Kp 8-9

Hakodate

35°N

Southern Hokkaido historic port, Onuma Park, Kp 8-9

From Kp 8-9

Hokkaido

37°N

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

From Kp 8-9

Kushiro

36°N

Kushiro Wetlands, Akan Mashu NP, Cape Kiritappu coast

From Kp 8-9

Nemuro

37°N

Cape Nosappu - Japan's easternmost point, Sea of Okhotsk coast

From Kp 8-9

Niseko

36°N

Ski resort, Mount Yotei approach, Lake Toya caldera

From Kp 8-9

Sapporo

37°N

Hokkaido's capital, Jozankei and Shikotsu-Toya dark sites

From Kp 8-9

Shiretoko

37°N

UNESCO wilderness, Bortle 1-2, Five Lakes, Utoro coast

From Kp 8-9

Toyako

36°N

Lake Toya volcanic caldera, Nakajima island, Usu volcano

From Kp 8-9

Southern hemisphere

Aurora australis locations in range at Kp 9+. 46 locations.

Bruny Island

53°S

South Bruny NP, Cloudy Bay, Southern Ocean dark sky

From Kp 3-4

Dover

53°S

Southernmost Tasmania by road, Cockle Creek, Bortle Class 1

From Kp 3-4

Fiordland

58°S

Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, Te Anau

From Kp 3

Gore

57°S

Southland, Dolamore Park, Hokonui Hills dark sky

From Kp 3

Invercargill

58°S

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

From Kp 2-3

Lake Tekapo

56°S

Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve

From Kp 3-4

Milford Sound

57°S

Fiordland, Piopiotahi, Mirror Lakes, Homer Tunnel

From Kp 3

Oamaru

55°S

Waitaki Valley, Elephant Rocks, Aoraki Mackenzie DSR gateway

From Kp 3-4

Stewart Island

59°S

Rakiura, NZ's southernmost inhabited island

From Kp 3-4

Strahan

53°S

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

From Kp 3-4

Te Anau

57°S

Fiordland gateway, Lake Manapouri, Bortle Class 1-2

From Kp 3

Ushuaia

55°S

World's southernmost city, Beagle Channel

From Kp 3-4

Devonport

52°S

North Tasmania ferry port, Cradle Mountain 90 min drive

From Kp 4

Dunedin

56°S

Otago Peninsula south coast

From Kp 4-5

Queenstown

56°S

Remarkables range, dark sky south of town

From Kp 4-5

St Helens

52°S

Bay of Fires, Mount William NP, northeast Tasmania

From Kp 4

Timaru

53°S

South Canterbury coast, Pareora Gorge, Caroline Bay

From Kp 4

Wānaka

56°S

Lone willow tree, Lake Wānaka

From Kp 4

Albany

48°S

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

From Kp 5-6

Bairnsdale

46°S

Gippsland gateway, Croajingolong NP, darkest Victoria

From Kp 5-6

Ballarat

46°S

Victorian goldfields, Creswick and Pyrenees dark sky

From Kp 5-6

Ceduna

47°S

South Australia's remotest dark sky, Nullarbor Plain

From Kp 5-6

Christchurch

55°S

Lake Tekapo Dark Sky Reserve nearby

From Kp 5-6

Cradle Mountain

54°S

Dove Lake, Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area

From Kp 5

El Calafate

50°S

Perito Moreno Glacier, Lake Argentino

From Kp 5-6

Esperance

48°S

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

From Kp 5-6

Hobart

54°S

Tasmania, Australia's lowest aurora threshold

From Kp 5-6

Kaikōura

52°S

Marlborough coast, Ohau Point, Kaikōura Peninsula

From Kp 5

Launceston

52°S

Northern Tasmania, Ben Lomond alpine dark sky

From Kp 5-6

Port Lincoln

47°S

Eyre Peninsula, Lincoln and Coffin Bay national parks

From Kp 5-6

Tasmania

54°S

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

From Kp 5

Warrnambool

47°S

Great Ocean Road coast, Port Campbell and Cape Otway

From Kp 5-6

Westport

51°S

West Coast, Cape Foulwind, Punakaiki, Paparoa NP

From Kp 5-6

Adelaide

47°S

Fleurieu Peninsula Deep Creek, Kangaroo Island south coast

From Kp 6-7

Falls Creek

50°S

Victorian Alps, Bogong High Plains at 1 600 m

From Kp 6-7

Kangaroo Island

42°S

Remarkable Rocks, south coast dark sky

From Kp 6-7

Mount Gambier

51°S

South Australia, Canunda NP south coast

From Kp 6-7

Nelson

50°S

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

From Kp 6

South Australia

49°S

Coorong, Limestone Coast, Fleurieu Peninsula south coast

From Kp 6

Victoria

50°S

Wilsons Promontory, Great Ocean Road, Victorian Alps

From Kp 6

Western Australia

47°S

Albany, Esperance, Fitzgerald River NP south coast

From Kp 6

Cape Town

42°S

Cape Point, southernmost accessible tip

From Kp 7-8

Melbourne

48°S

Point Nepean and Wilson's Promontory

From Kp 7-8

New South Wales

45°S

Eden south coast, Sapphire Coast, Kosciuszko

From Kp 7

Sutherland

43°S

Karoo, SAAO site, darkest skies in SA

From Kp 7-8

Sydney

42°S

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

From Kp 7-8
Common questions

Kp 9 aurora - FAQ

Everything you need to know about aurora visibility at Kp 9.

What is a G5 extreme storm?
G5 is the maximum level on the NOAA geomagnetic storm scale, corresponding to Kp 9. G5 storms are capable of widespread power grid disruption, satellite damage, complete radio blackout at high latitudes, and aurora visible across much of the world. The last G5 event before 2024 was in October 2003. The May 2024 event was the strongest storm in two decades.
Where can you see aurora at Kp 9?
At Kp 9 the aurora extends below 40°N magnetic latitude. That means Spain, Italy, Greece, Mexico, and Florida can see aurora in the northern hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere, aurora australis reaches into Queensland in Australia, the North Island of New Zealand, southern Brazil, and potentially South Africa. Aurora is visible from virtually any mid-latitude location with dark skies.
How rare is a G5 extreme storm?
G5 events occur on average once or twice per solar cycle of 11 years. The May 2024 storm was the first G5 event since October-November 2003. Some solar cycles produce no G5 events at all. When one occurs, it typically generates significant media coverage.
What happened during the May 2024 G5 storm?
The May 2024 storm was a series of coronal mass ejections that arrived in quick succession, producing sustained Kp 9 conditions over multiple hours. Aurora was photographed from Spain, Italy, Mexico, Florida, Cuba, and New Zealand's North Island - locations that had not seen aurora in decades. It was the most widespread aurora event since 2003 and produced millions of photographs from locations across Europe and the Americas.
What should I do if a G5 storm is forecast?
Head outside as soon as it is dark and the Kp rises above 7. A G5 storm often peaks quickly and subsides - sometimes within a few hours, sometimes over a night or two. Any location with a clear sky and a view of the horizon to the poleward direction (north in the northern hemisphere, south in the southern hemisphere) has a chance. Even moderate light pollution may not prevent visibility at Kp 9 - the aurora can fill the entire sky.
Sean Barraclough

Sean Barraclough

Creator of Aurora Tonight

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