Northern lights Umeå tonight
Umeå sits at ~64°N magnetic latitude. Kp 2–3 is the threshold from dark positions north of the city and along the UNESCO High Coast. Aurora is visible during moderate geomagnetic activity. For a dedicated aurora trip, Abisko and Kiruna at 68°N are 4 hours north. Best season: September to April.
Aurora visibility - Umeå
Low chance tonight
Kp 1 is below the threshold for Umeå. Activity would need to rise to Kp 2–3 before aurora could reach this latitude.
Current Kp
1
of 9
7-day outlook for Umeå
Today
19 May
Tomorrow
20 May
Thu
21 May
Fri
22 May
Sat
23 May
Sun
24 May
Mon
25 May
Based on CME arrival predictions from NASA DONKI. Arrival times ±6 hours.
What Kp is needed here?
Umeå sits at a magnetic latitude of approximately 64°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 2–3 before the auroral oval expands far enough south to be visible from here.
At Kp 2–3, visibility is possible from Umeå 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 Umeå
Light pollution is the biggest obstacle after cloud cover. These sites give you the best dark northern horizon within reach.
Nydala lake, north Umeå
Get directions ↗The lake north of the urban area gives a north-facing open water horizon with less surrounding light than the city centre. In winter the ice surface removes tree obstructions. This is the most practical quick dark sky position for Umeå residents - close enough to reach in 15 minutes on a clear night when a forecast shows Kp rising. Not as dark as the coast or forest positions further out, but accessible and usable at Kp 3+.
High Coast (Höga Kusten)
Get directions ↗The UNESCO World Heritage High Coast features dramatic post-glacial landscape - some of the highest coastline in the world due to land uplift since the last ice age. The elevated coastal positions face the Gulf of Bothnia to the east and open Baltic sea to the south-east. Light pollution is minimal along the coast road south of Härnösand. The dramatic landscape and coastal dark sky make it one of the best aurora positions in northern Sweden for moderate Kp.
Täfteå nature reserve
Get directions ↗Boreal forest and wetland reserve north of Umeå. Open clearings within the forest give north-facing sky positions away from city light. The reserve access tracks are ploughed in winter and the flat terrain makes it accessible without specialist equipment. A practical intermediate option between the quick lake position near the city and the longer drive to the High Coast.
Best time to see the northern lights in Umeå
At 64°N magnetic latitude, Umeå 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 Umeå'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.
Related pages
Northern Lights Sweden
Sweden-wide aurora forecast hub.
Northern Lights Abisko Tonight
Abisko - Sweden's aurora capital at 68°N, 4 hours north.
Northern Lights Kiruna Tonight
Kiruna - ICEHOTEL and Swedish Lapland gateway.
Northern Lights Stockholm Tonight
Stockholm - needs Kp 4-5, stronger storms only.
What Is the Kp Index?
How Kp determines aurora visibility at 64°N magnetic latitude.
Common questions
Aurora from Umeå - High Coast, Kp thresholds, and northern Sweden.
