Northern lights Cardiff tonight
Cardiff sits at ~51°N magnetic latitude. Kp 7+ is the threshold. The Brecon Beacons International Dark Sky Reserve is 40 minutes north - during major storms it gives some of the most dramatic aurora visible in Wales.
Aurora visibility — Cardiff
Unlikely tonight
Kp 1 is well below the Kp 7+ threshold needed for aurora to be visible from Cardiff.
Current Kp
1
of 9
What Kp is needed here?
Cardiff sits at a magnetic latitude of approximately 51°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 7+ before the auroral oval expands far enough south to be visible from here.
At Kp 7+, visibility is possible from Cardiff 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 Cardiff
Light pollution is the biggest obstacle after cloud cover. These sites give you the best dark northern horizon within reach.
Brecon Beacons National Park
An International Dark Sky Reserve about 40 minutes north of Cardiff. The Beacons give Bortle 3-4 conditions at altitude with a broad northern horizon. The closest major dark sky reserve to Cardiff and among the best in England and Wales.
Vale of Glamorgan Heritage Coast
The clifftop above Llantwit Major and St Donat's faces south-west over the Bristol Channel, but gives open sky in all directions. About 25 minutes south-west of Cardiff. Dark enough for strong events during which the aurora can be high in the northern sky.
Rhondda Fawr valley head
The upper Rhondda valley north of Treherbert becomes very dark above the valley floor. The ridge above at around 500 m gives open sky to the north toward the Brecon Beacons. About 35 minutes from Cardiff.
Black Mountains - Hay Bluff
The eastern Brecon Beacons around Hay Bluff above Hay-on-Wye give elevated north-facing positions at over 600 m. About 60 minutes from Cardiff via the A470. Very dark with open Bortle 3 conditions.
Other UK aurora forecasts
Related pages
Northern Lights UK
Live aurora forecast hub for all UK regions.
Northern Lights Wales Tonight
Wales-wide aurora forecast.
Northern Lights Brecon Beacons Tonight
The Brecon Beacons International Dark Sky Reserve is Cardiff's best aurora site.
What Is the Kp Index?
Why Kp 7+ is needed at 51°N magnetic latitude.
Best Time to See Northern Lights UK
Which months and solar conditions produce aurora at southern latitudes.
Common questions
Aurora watching from Cardiff and south Wales.