Northern lights in Leeds tonight
West Yorkshire · 53° magnetic latitude · Kp 6 threshold
Kp 1 is well below the Kp 6 threshold needed for aurora to be visible from Leeds.
7-day outlook for Leeds
Based on CME arrival predictions from NASA DONKI. Arrival times ±6 hours.
auroratonight.space
What Kp is needed here?
Leeds sits at a magnetic latitude of approximately 53°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 6 before the auroral oval expands far enough south to be visible from here.
At Kp 6, visibility is possible from Leeds 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 Leeds
Light pollution is the biggest obstacle after cloud cover. These sites give you the best dark northern horizon within reach.
North York Moors - Sutton Bank
Get directions ↗About 50 minutes north of Leeds. The Sutton Bank escarpment and the Moors give excellent dark sky conditions with Bortle 4 ratings. The northern escarpment looks out over the Vale of York with minimal light pollution to the north.
Yorkshire Dales - upper Wharfedale
Get directions ↗The Dales north and north-west of Skipton become genuinely dark within 45 minutes. The higher ground around Grassington and Malham gives open northern horizons and modest light domes only to the south.
Brimham Rocks, North Yorkshire
Get directions ↗National Trust site on the Nidderdale Moors about 30 minutes north of Leeds via Harrogate. Elevated moorland at over 300 m with north-facing sky access and Bortle 4-5 conditions.
Emley Moor
Get directions ↗The moorland around the transmitter mast west of Leeds is elevated and dark looking north. Car parks off the minor roads give positions above the Calder Valley where ambient light is significantly reduced.
Best time to see the northern lights in Leeds
At 53°N magnetic latitude, Leeds 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 Leeds'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
How often does the aurora appear in Leeds?
Average nights per month the Kp reached Leeds's threshold of 6+, from 15 years of geomagnetic data (2010–2024).
Counts the Kp 6+ 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 Leeds
Best window
The January to March window averages 1 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 Yorkshire Tonight
Yorkshire-wide aurora forecast covering Dales, Moors, and coasts.
Read →Northern Lights Sheffield Tonight
Sheffield has access to the Peak District dark sky sites.
Read →Northern Lights Newcastle Tonight
Newcastle has a lower Kp threshold than Leeds.
Read →What Is the Kp Index?
What Kp 6 means and why latitude determines the threshold.
Read →Aurora photographs from Leeds
Real photos sourced from Wikimedia Commons.
Aurora over Leeds 
Aurora over Leeds 
Aurora over Leeds 
Aurora over Leeds 
Aurora over Leeds 
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