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Live aurora forecast

Northern lights Latvia tonight

Latvia at ~58°N magnetic latitude needs Kp 4-5 from dark coastal sites. Cape Kolka at the tip of the Courland Peninsula is Latvia's best aurora position - north-west-facing over the open Baltic with Bortle 2 sky. Aurora is visible during G1-G2 storms several times per year during solar maximum.

Current Kp: 1 · Quiet

Aurora visibility by location

Riga

Unlikely

Cape Kolka and Gauja National Park — Kp 4-5

~58°N mag. lat. · Needs Kp 4+

Latvia aurora at a glance

Latvia sits between Estonia and Lithuania at 56-58°N magnetic latitude. The country's position on the eastern Baltic gives it access to north-facing open ocean horizons - an advantage over landlocked areas at the same latitude. Cape Kolka, where the Courland Peninsula narrows to a point and the Gulf of Riga meets the open Baltic, is Latvia's best aurora position. At 57.7°N geographic, the cape faces north-west with Slītere National Park providing Bortle 2 conditions.

Compared to Estonia directly to the north, Latvia needs slightly stronger activity - Kp 4-5 versus Kp 3-4 - but the Latvian coast is less well-known for aurora, which means fewer visitors and more isolated dark sky positions. Gauja National Park north-east of Riga is an accessible inland alternative. During G1-G2 storms, Latvia sees aurora from its northern coast on clear nights, with several events per year during solar maximum.

Related pages

Aurora Locations Worldwide

Global hub for all aurora forecast regions.

Northern Lights Riga Tonight

Riga - Cape Kolka and Gauja National Park, Kp 4-5.

Northern Lights Estonia

Estonia aurora - Tallinn and Lahemaa, Kp 3-4.

Northern Lights Finland

Finland aurora - Helsinki to Lapland.

Northern Lights Sweden

Sweden aurora - Stockholm to Abisko.

Common questions

Northern lights in Latvia - Cape Kolka, thresholds, and aurora frequency.

Can you see the northern lights in Latvia?
Yes, during moderate geomagnetic storms. Latvia at 56-58°N magnetic latitude needs Kp 4-5 from dark coastal sites. Cape Kolka at the tip of the Courland Peninsula is Latvia's best aurora position - north-west-facing over the open Baltic. During G1-G2 storms (Kp 4-6), aurora is visible from the Latvian coast as arcs and bands on the northern horizon. G3+ storms produce stronger displays visible from inland locations.
How often is aurora visible from Latvia?
Several times per year during solar maximum. At Kp 4-5, Latvia sits within reach of aurora during G1-G2 storms. The current solar cycle (Solar Cycle 25) has produced more frequent G2+ events than the previous cycle. Verified aurora photographs from Cape Kolka and the Gulf of Riga coast appear regularly on Latvian astronomy forums during active periods.
Where is the best place to see aurora in Latvia?
Cape Kolka (Kolkasrags) at the northern tip of the Courland Peninsula is Latvia's best aurora position. It faces north-west over the Baltic Sea at the junction of the Gulf of Riga and the open Baltic. Slītere National Park surrounds the cape with Bortle 2 conditions. The 180 km drive from Riga is the commitment required. For closer options, the Vidzeme coast north of Riga and Gauja National Park give Bortle 3-4 positions within 60 km.
What Kp is needed for aurora in Latvia?
Kp 4 from Cape Kolka and the open Baltic coast. Kp 5 for aurora visible from Riga's northern suburbs. Latvia at ~58°N magnetic latitude is at the same band as central Norway - requiring somewhat more activity than Estonia's 60°N but significantly less than the Netherlands or Germany.
When is the best time for aurora in Latvia?
September to April. Latvia at 57°N geographic has around 16 hours of darkness in December. The equinox months are the most geomagnetically active. The Latvian coast can be foggy in autumn and early winter, particularly along the Gulf of Riga. The clearest aurora conditions tend to occur in February and March when cold stable high-pressure systems sit over the Baltic states. Monitor NOAA alerts and the LVĢMC weather forecast together.