Live aurora forecast

Northern lights Romania tonight

Romania at 44–47°N magnetic latitude sits at the outer edge of European aurora territory. Kp 7–8 is needed — strong G3–G4 storms. The May 2024 G5 storm produced aurora across the country. The Carpathian Mountains at 1,500–2,500 m elevation are Romania's best aurora positions, with some of the darkest skies in central Europe.

Aurora forecast - Romania

Unlikely tonight

Kp 1 is well below the Kp 7–8 from the Carpathians threshold. No significant aurora activity is expected at this time.

Current Kp

of 9

Best threshold in Romania: Kp 7–8 from the Carpathians Ref. latitude: ~46°N mag.

↓ Bz — nT Solar wind — km/s Density — p/cm³ ☁ —% at ref. site

Conditions right now: — Kp + Bz + solar wind + cloud + moon

7-day outlook for Romania

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. Badges show the best-case location in Romania.

Aurora visibility in Romania

Carpathian Mountains

Unlikely

Retezat and Piatra Craiului — darkest skies in Romania

~46°N mag. lat. Needs Kp 7+

Best time to see the northern lights in Romania

Aurora in Romania requires significant geomagnetic storms. Only the deep mid-winter months offer nights dark and long enough for viewing, and only during periods of elevated Kp.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Romania aurora at a glance

Romania is one of the larger countries in Europe where aurora has been credibly documented, and the Carpathians give it a genuine edge over flat terrain at similar latitudes. The mountain chain runs in an arc through Transylvania, and the peaks of Retezat, Piatra Craiului, and the Bucegi range all provide high-altitude dark sky positions accessible by road or short hike. Retezat National Park is particularly remote - designated by the EU as one of Romania's core wilderness areas, it has virtually no light pollution at night.

Romania's relatively low overall light pollution - compared with western Europe at similar latitudes - is an advantage when a significant storm does arrive. Clear mountain skies and an unobstructed northern horizon above Transylvanian valleys can produce striking aurora sightings during G4–G5 events, as the May 2024 storm demonstrated.

Aurora Locations Worldwide

Global hub for all aurora forecast regions.

Northern Lights Carpathians Tonight

Carpathian Mountains - Romania's best aurora position at elevation.

Northern Lights Germany

Germany - north Europe comparison, lower Kp thresholds.

Northern Lights Poland

Poland - adjacent, slightly lower aurora threshold.

What Is the Kp Index?

What Kp 7 means for aurora visibility at 46°N magnetic latitude.

Common questions

Northern lights in Romania - the Carpathians, Transylvania, and what storms are needed.

Can you see the northern lights in Romania?

Yes, during severe geomagnetic storms. Romania at 44–47°N magnetic latitude needs G4–G5 activity (Kp 7–8) for aurora to be visible. The G5 storm of May 2024 produced aurora photographed across Romania, including from Bucharest. The Carpathian Mountains at elevation provide the best conditions: reduced light pollution, clearer air, and the elevated position helps detect lower-altitude aurora. Outside major storm events, aurora is not regularly visible from Romania.

What Kp is needed for aurora in Romania?

Kp 7 from the Carpathian Mountains at elevation - the equivalent of a G3 geomagnetic storm. Kp 7–8 for aurora visible from Bucharest and the Transylvanian plateau. Romania sits at the lower edge of European aurora territory. G4–G5 storms, which occur a few times per solar cycle, push the auroral oval far enough south to reach Romania clearly. During the current solar maximum, such events have occurred more frequently than the 11-year average.

Where is the best place in Romania to see aurora?

The Carpathian Mountains - particularly the Retezat National Park and Piatra Craiului range - give the best conditions. High-altitude positions above the Transylvanian basin sit at 1,500–2,500 m, above valley mist and haze. Retezat in the southwest is one of Europe's least light-polluted national parks. Piatra Craiului is closer to Bucharest (2 hours) and sits on a limestone ridge with clear northern views. The Apuseni mountains in western Romania are accessible from Cluj-Napoca.

What happened during the May 2024 aurora in Romania?

The G5 storm of 10–11 May 2024 produced vivid aurora visible across Romania. Photographs from mountain peaks, Transylvanian villages, and even Bucharest's edges circulated widely. Red aurora was dominant - the characteristic signature of high-altitude aurora at lower geomagnetic latitudes where oxygen emission at 630 nm dominates. For many Romanians, it was an entirely unexpected sight. G5 events of this scale occur only a few times per solar cycle.

When is aurora season in Romania?

September to March, but only during significant geomagnetic storms. Romania's location at the southern edge of European aurora territory means dark nights alone are not sufficient - a genuine G3+ storm is required. The equinox months, September and March, are geomagnetically the most active periods of the year. A practical approach is to monitor the Kp forecast and drive to a Carpathian dark sky position when a G3-G4 storm is predicted.

Northern lights Romania tonight

7-day outlook for Romania

Aurora visibility in Romania

Best time to see the northern lights in Romania

Romania aurora at a glance

Related pages

Common questions

Photograph the Aurora - Recommended Gear