Northern lights in Derry 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 Derry.
7-day outlook for Derry
Based on CME arrival predictions from NASA DONKI. Arrival times ±6 hours.
auroratonight.space
What Kp is needed here?
Derry 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 Derry 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 Derry
Light pollution is the biggest obstacle after cloud cover. These sites give you the best dark northern horizon within reach.
Sperrin Mountains
Get directions ↗A remote mountain range south-east of Derry in the heart of Northern Ireland. The Sperrins give genuinely dark skies with Bortle 3-4 conditions and open north-facing moorland. The Glenshane Pass and the hills above Dungiven are accessible from Derry in about 40 minutes.
Magiligan Point
Get directions ↗The flat sand spit at the mouth of Lough Foyle, north of Derry. Open north-west-facing beach with Donegal to the west and the open Atlantic beyond. Properly dark, with minimal coastal development north of the point. About 25 minutes from Derry.
Inishowen Peninsula, Co. Donegal
Get directions ↗Directly north of Derry across the Irish border, the Inishowen Peninsula gives the most northerly accessible land in Ireland. The north coast around Malin Head faces north into the open Atlantic at around 55°N latitude. About 40-50 minutes from Derry.
Lough Foyle shoreline
Get directions ↗The east shore of Lough Foyle north of Derry gives open north-facing water views toward the Atlantic mouth of the lough. Dark farmland with minimal coastal development gives Bortle 4-5 conditions.
Best time to see the northern lights in Derry
At 54°N magnetic latitude, Derry 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 Derry'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 Derry?
Average nights per month the Kp reached Derry'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 Derry
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 Belfast Tonight
Belfast is east with the Antrim coast and Mourne Mountains.
Read →Northern Lights Antrim Tonight
Antrim Dark Sky Park is in north-east Northern Ireland.
Read →What Is the Kp Index?
What Kp 5-6 means for viewing from Northern Ireland.
Read →Aurora photographs from Derry
Real photos sourced from Wikimedia Commons.
Aurora over Derry 
Aurora over Derry 
Aurora over Derry 
Aurora over Derry 
Aurora over Derry 
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