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Northern lights Hull tonight

Hull sits at ~54°N magnetic latitude on the Humber Estuary. The Holderness coast at Flamborough Head and Spurn Point faces directly north over the North Sea - Kp 5 from these sites on a clear night. The flat coastal plain between city and sea clears quickly of light pollution.

Aurora visibility - Hull

Unlikely tonight

Kp 1 is well below the Kp 5 threshold needed for aurora to be visible from Hull.

Current Kp

of 9

Threshold for Hull: Kp 5 Magnetic latitude: ~54°N Updated: 21 May, 06:16 UTC

↓ Bz — nT Solar wind — km/s Density — p/cm³ ☁ —%

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

7-day outlook for Hull

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.

What Kp is needed here?

Hull 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 before the auroral oval expands far enough south to be visible from here.

At Kp 5, visibility is possible from Hull 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 Hull

Light pollution is the biggest obstacle after cloud cover. These sites give you the best dark northern horizon within reach.

Flamborough Head

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Bortle Class 3 - Rural sky, good dark sky 40 km from Hull - approximately 45 minute drive

A dramatic chalk headland on the Holderness coast with a north-facing North Sea horizon and almost no artificial light to the seaward side. The area around the lighthouse gives a clear view from north-west through north to north-east, with the sea as a dark foreground. Flamborough Head is one of the most naturally dark coastal positions in the East of England at this latitude and one of the best positioned for low aurora arcs above the North Sea horizon on a Kp 5 night.

Spurn Point National Nature Reserve

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Bortle Class 3 - Rural sky, good dark sky 45 km from Hull - approximately 50 minute drive

A narrow 5 km shingle peninsula at the mouth of the Humber, managed by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. The peninsula is dark in essentially all directions - the Humber mouth to the west and the North Sea to the east, with the vast open sky typical of coastal lowland. A north-facing view from the tip gives an unobstructed sea horizon. The site is closed to vehicles at night but the access road provides positions with open north sky. One of the few places in East Yorkshire with near-360-degree dark horizon.

Yorkshire Wolds Way - Millington Dale area

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Bortle Class 4 - Rural/suburban transition sky 30 km from Hull - approximately 30 minute drive

The chalk wolds north-west of Beverley rise to 200 m and give significantly darker sky than the Holderness plain and the Humber lowlands. The elevated farmland around Millington and Huggate has a wide north-facing horizon with only scattered farm buildings. Bortle 4 conditions here are not ideal for faint displays but the short drive makes it a practical first stop when Kp is elevated and a clear north-facing position is needed quickly.

Best time to see the northern lights in Hull

At 54°N magnetic latitude, Hull 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.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

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 Hull'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

York

Yorkshire

Unlikely

North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales

~53°N mag. lat. Kp 6-7

Yorkshire Dales

Unlikely

Ribblehead Viaduct, Malham Cove Dark Sky Discovery Site

~54°N mag. lat. Kp 4-5

Northern Lights UK

Live aurora forecast hub for all UK regions.

Northern Lights York Tonight

York aurora forecast - same Kp threshold, North York Moors access.

Northern Lights Yorkshire Tonight

Yorkshire-wide aurora forecast covering Dales, Moors, and coasts.

Northern Lights Yorkshire Dales Tonight

Yorkshire Dales - Dark Sky Discovery Site, Bortle 2-3.

What Is the Kp Index?

How Kp 5 determines visibility at 54°N magnetic latitude.

Common questions

Aurora watching from Hull and the Holderness coast dark sky sites.

Can you see the northern lights from Hull?

From the city itself, only during major storms (Kp 7+). Hull is on the Humber Estuary with flat surrounding terrain and significant city light pollution. The Holderness coast at Flamborough Head, 40 minutes north-east, gives Bortle 3 sky with an unobstructed North Sea horizon where Kp 5 is enough for a clear aurora arc. During strong storms the aurora reflects off the sea, which makes coastal positions particularly effective.

What Kp is needed for aurora near Hull?

Kp 5 from dark coastal sites on the Holderness coast - Flamborough Head and Spurn Point. Hull sits at roughly 54°N magnetic latitude, placing it at the same threshold as York and Newcastle. A G1 storm (Kp 5) is sufficient from a Bortle 3 position with a clear north-facing sea horizon. The flat Holderness plain between Hull and the coast is poorly lit outside of Bridlington, giving good conditions en route.

Is the Holderness coast good for aurora photography?

Yes, particularly Flamborough Head. The chalk cliffs and lighthouse structure give a photogenic foreground that most flat coastal sites lack. The north-facing North Sea horizon means a low aurora arc appears clearly above the water with no land obstruction. Spurn Point is even darker but harder to reach and access at night is restricted. The sea reflection on bright Kp 6+ nights adds a second aurora image in the water, doubling the visual impact.

How does Hull compare to York for aurora access?

The two cities are at the same magnetic latitude and share the same Kp 5 threshold. York has quicker access to the North York Moors escarpment and Yorkshire Dales, both of which give elevated, open sky. Hull has the advantage of the Holderness coast - dark coastal positions with open North Sea horizons that work well for low aurora arcs. For photography, the coast around Flamborough Head is arguably more dramatic than anything immediately accessible from York.

When is the best time to see aurora from Hull?

September to March. The North Sea coast clears well in high-pressure winters, and cold air masses from the east bring low humidity and good sky transparency. September and March are the most geomagnetically active months globally. Avoid summer when nights are too short - the Holderness coast needs genuine astronomical dark to show faint aurora arcs effectively.

Northern lights Hull tonight

7-day outlook for Hull

What Kp is needed here?

Best dark sky sites near Hull

Best time to see the northern lights in Hull

Other UK aurora forecasts

Related pages

Common questions

Photograph the Aurora - Recommended Gear