Northern lights in Belfast tonight
Northern Ireland · 54° magnetic latitude · Kp 5-6 threshold
Kp 1 is well below the Kp 5-6 threshold needed for aurora to be visible from Belfast.
7-day outlook for Belfast
Based on CME arrival predictions from NASA DONKI. Arrival times ±6 hours.
auroratonight.space
What Kp is needed here?
Belfast sits at a magnetic latitude of approximately 54°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 5-6 before the auroral oval expands far enough south to be visible from here.
At Kp 5-6, visibility is possible from Belfast 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 Belfast
Light pollution is the biggest obstacle after cloud cover. These sites give you the best dark northern horizon within reach.
Mourne Mountains
Get directions ↗An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty about 50 minutes south of Belfast. The high granite peaks above Rostrevor and Kilkeel give elevated north-facing positions with dark skies. Silent Valley and the Kilbroney Forest area are popular starting points.
Antrim Plateau and coast
Get directions ↗North of Belfast along the A2 Causeway Coastal Route. The plateau above Glenarm and Carnlough gives open sky facing north over the North Channel toward Scotland. About 30-40 minutes from the city.
Strangford Lough
Get directions ↗The large sea lough south-east of Belfast. The east shore above Portaferry gives an open eastern sky. The Ards Peninsula north of Portaferry is dark and faces north-east over the Irish Sea with minimal development.
Cave Hill Country Park
Get directions ↗The basalt escarpment directly above Belfast. The summit at 368 m gives a clear northern horizon. Easily accessible - the car park at the foot gives a 30-minute walk to the top. Best for strong events (Kp 6+) when the aurora is high enough to be visible through the city light dome.
Best time to see the northern lights in Belfast
At 54°N magnetic latitude, Belfast sits at the lower end of regular aurora territory. Only the deep mid-winter months of November through January offer nights dark enough for aurora to be visible, and only then when a significant geomagnetic storm pushes the auroral oval this far south.
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 Belfast's latitude.
Outside November through January, twilight is too bright for aurora viewing even during significant storms. The season is short, but the equinox months on either side of winter can extend it slightly when storm timing aligns.
Other UK aurora forecasts
Up to 8 locations
How often does the aurora appear in Belfast?
Average nights per month the Kp reached Belfast's threshold of 5+, from 15 years of geomagnetic data (2010–2024).
Counts the Kp 5+ threshold only - cloud cover and local darkness are not included.
Kp data: GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, CC BY 4.0
Plan your trip to Belfast
Best window
The February to April window averages 4 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.
Related pages
Northern Lights UK
Live aurora forecast hub for all UK regions.
Read →Northern Lights Northern Ireland Tonight
Northern Ireland-wide aurora forecast.
Read →Northern Lights Antrim Tonight
Antrim Dark Sky Park is north of Belfast.
Read →Northern Lights Derry Tonight
Derry is north-west with the Sperrin Mountains dark sky area.
Read →What Is the Kp Index?
What Kp 5-6 means for viewing from Northern Ireland.
Read →Aurora photographs from Belfast
Real photos sourced from Wikimedia Commons.
Aurora over Belfast 
Aurora over Belfast 
Aurora over Belfast 
Aurora over Belfast 
Aurora over Belfast 
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