Live aurora forecast

Northern lights in Narvik tonight

Northern Norway · 68° magnetic latitude · Kp 1–2 threshold

Aurora visibility · Narvik
6/9
Good chance tonight

Kp 6 exceeds the visibility threshold for Narvik. Head out if skies are clear and you have a dark site.

QuietStormExtreme
Threshold
Kp 1–2
Magnetic latitude
~68°N
Bz ↓ south
- nT
Solar wind
- km/s
Density
- p/cm³
Cloud
-
Conditions right now: - Kp + Bz + solar wind + cloud + moon

Updated: 5 Jul, 16:21 UTC

7-day outlook for Narvik

Today
5 Jul
6
Good chance
Tomorrow
6 Jul
3
Good chance
Tue
7 Jul
3
Good chance
Wed
8 Jul
3
Good chance
Thu
9 Jul
3
Good chance
Fri
10 Jul
3
Good chance
Sat
11 Jul
3
Good chance

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

auroratonight.space

What Kp is needed here?

Narvik sits at a magnetic latitude of approximately 68°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 1–2 before the auroral oval expands far enough south to be visible from here.

At Kp 1–2, visibility is possible from Narvik but skies need to be clear and dark. Cloud cover and light pollution remain the main obstacles even when Kp is high enough.

Plan your viewing

Best dark sky sites near Narvik

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

Narvikfjellet mountain gondola summit

Get directions ↗
Bortle Class 2 - Excellent dark sky 3 km from Narvik - approximately 15 minute gondola ride

The Narvikfjellet gondola leaves from close to the town centre and reaches 656 m in around 15 minutes, placing you above the Narvik light dome with a north-facing panorama across Ofoten fjord and the surrounding mountain walls. Ski resort lights switch off after piste closure, leaving the summit in full darkness. Bortle Class 2 in all northern and western directions, with the fjord water visible 500 m below between the peaks. One of the few accessible elevated dark sky positions in northern Norway that requires no driving and gives genuine altitude above valley cloud.

Beisfjord inner arm

Get directions ↗
Bortle Class 2 - Excellent dark sky 20 km from Narvik - approximately 20 minute drive

Beisfjord is a narrow fjord arm running 13 km southeast from the main Ofoten waterway, enclosed by mountain walls reaching 1,500 m. The inner arm has no settlement beyond a small village at its head, and the road along the eastern shore is dark once past the village lights. Drive south on Route 19 from Narvik and turn off toward Beisfjord after the main bridge. North-facing pull-ins along the inner fjord give a view down the water toward the Ofoten channel. On still nights the fjord surface mirrors any aurora above. The mountain walls block Narvik's light dome completely from the deepest positions.

Ofotbanen railway viewpoints

Get directions ↗
Bortle Class 2 - Excellent dark sky 15 km from Narvik - approximately 15 minute drive

The Ofotbanen railway climbs 440 m from Narvik's waterfront to Bjørnfjell through steep mountain terrain. Several lay-bys along the old military road (Riksvei 865) above the town give elevated views across Ofoten fjord and down into the valley. At 300–400 m elevation the Narvik light dome falls behind the ridge, giving Bortle Class 2 conditions. The railway infrastructure - bridges, stone walls, and platforms from the 1940 campaign - provides a historical foreground. The road is accessible year-round with care on icy sections in winter.

When to go

Best time to see the northern lights in Narvik

At 68°N magnetic latitude, Narvik 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 Narvik'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.

Up to 8 locations

Narvik

Norway

Good chance
Kp 6 need Kp 1-2
Checking darkness…
Tromsø

Norway

Good chance
Kp 6 need Kp 1-2
Checking darkness…
Harstad

Norway

Good chance
Kp 6 need Kp 1
Checking darkness…
The odds

How often does the aurora appear in Narvik?

Average nights per month the Kp reached Narvik's threshold of 1+, from 15 years of geomagnetic data (2010–2024).

24.8Jan
27.3Feb
32.9Mar
0Apr
0May
0Jun
0Jul
0Aug
20.7Sep
31.1Oct
25Nov
22.6Dec

Counts the Kp 1+ threshold only - cloud cover and local darkness are not included.
Kp data: GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, CC BY 4.0

Make it happen

Plan your trip to Narvik

Based on 15 years of geomagnetic data (2010–2024)

1st
March
32.9
avg aurora nights
Requires an extended stay
2nd
October
31.1
avg aurora nights
Requires an extended stay
3rd
February
27.3
avg aurora nights
Stay 1+ nights for 80% chance

Best window

The January to March window averages 85 aurora nights - the strongest consecutive stretch of the year.

How long to stay

Aurora at this latitude requires patience - allow as many nights as possible during March.

From the community

Aurora photographs from Narvik

Real photos sourced from Wikimedia Commons.

Aurora over NarvikAurora over Narvik
Aurora over NarvikAurora over Narvik
Aurora over NarvikAurora over Narvik
Aurora over NarvikAurora over Narvik
Aurora over NarvikAurora over Narvik
Aurora over NarvikAurora over Narvik
Questions

Common questions about aurora in Narvik

How does Narvik compare to Tromsø for aurora?
Narvik sits at 68°N magnetic latitude - one degree south of Tromsø - meaning both cities have a comparable Kp 1-2 threshold on clear nights. The difference is visitor numbers. Tromsø handles tens of thousands of aurora tourists per winter; Narvik receives a fraction of that traffic, and its dark sky positions are rarely crowded. Narvik also has foregrounds Tromsø cannot offer: the Ofoten fjord is a different shape, the Ofotbanen railway gives historical elements, and the Beisfjord arm is one of the most enclosed and dark fjord positions in the region. For photographers, Narvik is at least as productive as the best Tromsø-area spots.
What Kp is needed for aurora in Narvik?
At 68°N magnetic latitude, Narvik requires the Kp index - a global measure of geomagnetic activity on a scale from 0 (quiet) to 9 (extreme storm), updated every 3 hours - to reach at least Kp 1-2 before aurora is reliably visible. On quiet nights at Kp 1, a faint arc often sits on the northern horizon above the fjord. Kp 2 produces an active display with structure and movement from the gondola summit and the Beisfjord positions. During Kp 3+ storms aurora can fill the sky overhead.
Is the Narvikfjellet gondola a good way to see the northern lights?
Yes, and it is one of the more useful elevation options in northern Norway that requires no car. The gondola runs until around 10 pm on operating evenings and gives access to 656 m without navigating a mountain road in winter conditions. From the summit, the view opens north across Ofoten fjord with no light sources between you and the horizon. The limitation is the schedule - if activity peaks after 10 pm, you are already back in town. Check the last departure time before going up and monitor the forecast; the gondola is most worthwhile when activity is already elevated or clearly expected to rise during the operating window.
What makes Ofoten fjord a good aurora photography location?
Ofoten fjord is 40 km long and 2–3 km wide, enclosed by mountain walls rising to 1,700 m. On calm nights the fjord surface mirrors any active display above it, with the mountain silhouettes forming natural borders on each side. The east-west orientation of the main fjord means the northern sky opens directly above the water from most shore positions. South of Narvik past Bjerkvik there is minimal light pollution along the fjord. The Beisfjord arm adds an even more enclosed and dark alternative, with the main Ofoten channel visible in the middle distance.
How do I get to Narvik?
Narvik is served by Harstad/Narvik Airport (EVE) at Evenes, 80 km south of the city - about a 1-hour drive. Widerøe operates connections from Tromsø, Oslo, and other Norwegian cities. There is also a direct train service from Stockholm and Boden in Sweden via the Ofotbanen railway - a worthwhile journey in itself across the Scandinavian mountains. The E6 road from Tromsø takes around 3.5 hours. Hire car is recommended for accessing the dark sky positions around the fjord.
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