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Northern lights Šiauliai tonight

Šiauliai is northern Lithuania's largest city at 56°N magnetic latitude - better positioned for aurora than Vilnius and home to the Hill of Crosses, one of Europe's most atmospheric aurora foregrounds. Kp 4–5 is the threshold from dark sites around the city. The Hill of Crosses - covered with over 100,000 crosses accumulated over 150 years - is 12 minutes north on flat dark farmland. Best season: September to March.

Aurora visibility - Šiauliai

Unlikely tonight

Kp 1 is well below the Kp 4–5 threshold needed for aurora to be visible from Šiauliai.

Current Kp

1

of 9

Threshold for Šiauliai: Kp 4–5 Magnetic latitude: ~56°N Updated: 21 May, 22:55 UTC
↓ Bz nT Solar wind km/s Density p/cm³
Conditions right now: Kp + Bz + solar wind + cloud + moon

7-day outlook for Šiauliai

Today

21 May

Quiet

Tomorrow

22 May

Quiet

Sat

23 May

Quiet

Sun

24 May

Quiet

Mon

25 May

Quiet

Tue

26 May

Quiet

Wed

27 May

Quiet

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

What Kp is needed here?

Šiauliai sits at a magnetic latitude of approximately 56°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 4–5 before the auroral oval expands far enough south to be visible from here.

At Kp 4–5, visibility is possible from Šiauliai 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 Šiauliai

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

Hill of Crosses - Kryžių kalnas

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Bortle Class 3 - Rural sky 12 km from Šiauliai - approximately 12 minute drive

The Hill of Crosses (Kryžių kalnas) is a sacred pilgrimage site 12 km north of Šiauliai, with over 100,000 crosses of all sizes accumulated since the 19th century covering a small natural hill. The surrounding farmland is flat and dark with no settlement between the site and the horizon in any direction, and no lighting is installed at the site itself - a torch is needed to navigate safely. The sky faces north across the flat Lithuanian agricultural plain, and conditions throughout reach Bortle Class 3. A car park with toilets sits 200 m from the hill, and the site is accessible year-round at any hour.

Šiauliai reservoir north shore

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Bortle Class 3-4 - Rural/suburban sky 8 km from Šiauliai centre - approximately 10 minute drive

The Šiauliai reservoir (Talšos tvenkinys) is a large artificial lake northwest of the city, and the north shore gives a water-facing north view across the reservoir surface toward open farmland. Šiauliai's light dome sits to the southeast and does not significantly affect the north-facing horizon from this position. A path runs along the shore giving several watching positions, and the reservoir is open at all hours with no barrier. Conditions from the water's edge reach Bortle Class 3-4.

Žagarė Regional Park

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Bortle Class 3 - Rural sky 45 km from Šiauliai - approximately 45 minute drive

Žagarė Regional Park in northern Lithuania protects the Švėtė river valley and surrounding farmland near the Latvian border, including one of Lithuania's oldest towns and open agricultural land with burial mounds and archaeological sites. The surrounding territory is sparsely populated and the park gives Bortle Class 3 throughout, with valley positions giving northward views across flat farmland toward Latvia. The park is less visited than the more famous Aukštaitija, giving reliable quiet dark sky. It is accessible by road from Šiauliai on Route 155 north.

Best time to see the northern lights in Šiauliai

Šiauliai's aurora season runs from late September through to March, when nights are long enough for truly dark skies. The equinox months, September and March, bring a natural boost in geomagnetic activity, making them statistically the best of the season. Summer months bring too much twilight for aurora to be visible at this latitude.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

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 Šiauliai's latitude.

April through August brings persistent astronomical twilight that washes out aurora completely. Even strong events (Kp 6+) remain invisible during this period because the sky never gets dark enough.

Common questions

Northern lights from Šiauliai - Hill of Crosses, Žagarė Regional Park, and when to go.

What Kp is needed for aurora in Šiauliai?
The Kp index is a global measure of geomagnetic activity on a scale from 0 (quiet) to 9 (extreme storm), updated every 3 hours. Šiauliai at 56°N magnetic latitude - the same band as Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders - needs Kp 4-5 from dark sites outside the city. From the Hill of Crosses at Bortle Class 3, Kp 4-5 conditions can produce a green arc on the northern horizon. G1 storms (Kp 5) give more reliable and structured aurora from these positions.
What is the Hill of Crosses and why is it good for aurora?
The Hill of Crosses is one of Europe's most remarkable pilgrimage sites - a small natural hill 12 km north of Šiauliai covered with over 100,000 crosses accumulated since the 19th century as an act of national and religious resistance, first against Russian Tsarist rule and later Soviet occupation. Three times the Soviets bulldozed the crosses; three times Lithuanians rebuilt them. At night the site is unlit and surrounded by flat farmland: the cross silhouettes against an active aurora display produce an unusual and atmospheric image that has no equivalent elsewhere in Europe. The site is accessible at any hour without fee.
How does Šiauliai compare to Vilnius for aurora?
Šiauliai at 56°N magnetic latitude has a lower threshold than Vilnius at 54°N - roughly one Kp point lower. The Hill of Crosses 12 km north gives an immediate dark sky foreground, whereas Vilnius requires a 70-90 km drive to reach equivalent dark sky. Šiauliai is also closer to the Baltic coast: Klaipėda and the Curonian Spit are around 130 km west. Vilnius has better transport infrastructure but Šiauliai's position in northern Lithuania gives it a genuine aurora advantage.
Has aurora been seen from the Hill of Crosses?
Yes. During the active solar period of 2023-2024, aurora has been photographed from the site on multiple occasions. The October 2024 G4 storm (Kp 8) produced aurora visible across Lithuania including from the Hill of Crosses, where the cross silhouettes appeared against red and green displays. At lower activity levels, a green arc on the northern horizon from Kp 4-5 conditions has been confirmed from the site by Lithuanian astronomy groups. The site's fame as a photography subject means aurora images from there circulate quickly on social media.
When is the best time for aurora in Šiauliai?
September to March. The equinox months of September and March give the best probability of elevated geomagnetic activity. Šiauliai has a continental climate with colder winters than the Baltic coast - cold, clear high-pressure periods are more common here than in Klaipėda. February conditions often give clear, cold nights ideal for aurora watching, particularly in combination with the equinoctial activity that builds through late February and March.

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