Aurora Tonight
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Northern lights Lincoln tonight

Lincoln sits at ~53°N magnetic latitude in flat Lincolnshire. Kp 6 is the practical threshold. The Lincolnshire Wolds AONB is 25 minutes north-east and the North Sea coast 40 minutes east - both give wide open northern skies.

Aurora visibility — Lincoln

Unlikely tonight

Kp 1 is well below the Kp 6 threshold needed for aurora to be visible from Lincoln.

Current Kp

1

of 9

Threshold for Lincoln: Kp 6 Magnetic latitude: ~53°N Updated: 10 May, 11:04 UTC

What Kp is needed here?

Lincoln 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 Lincoln 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 Lincoln

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

Lincolnshire Wolds AONB

About 25 minutes north-east of Lincoln. England's most northerly chalk downland. The rolling hills between Louth and Market Rasen give Bortle 4-5 conditions with elevated north-facing views. Some of the darkest skies in the East Midlands.

Saltfleetby and Theddlethorpe coast

The North Sea coast north of Mablethorpe, about 40 minutes from Lincoln. National Nature Reserve duneland facing north-east over open sea. Very dark with essentially no development to the north.

The Fens - north of Lincoln

The flat fenland north of Lincoln is dark due to low population density and minimal built development. The completely flat horizon gives an unobstructed sky from horizon to zenith. Not dramatic but very dark at Bortle 4.

Normanby le Wold viewpoint

The highest point of Lincolnshire at 168 m in the Wolds. North-facing views from the ridge above Normanby le Wold give the clearest northern horizon in the county. About 30 minutes from Lincoln.

Other UK aurora forecasts

UK overview Nottingham Leeds Cambridge

Related pages

Northern Lights UK

Live aurora forecast hub for all UK regions.

Northern Lights Nottingham Tonight

Nottingham is south-west of Lincoln with Peak District access.

Northern Lights Cambridge Tonight

Cambridge is south with access to the Fens dark sky area.

What Is the Kp Index?

What Kp 6 means and how to track it in real time.

Tips for Viewing the Northern Lights

How to choose dark sky sites and plan your watch.

Common questions

Aurora watching from Lincoln and the Lincolnshire dark sky sites.

Can you see the northern lights from Lincoln?
From the Lincoln Edge ridge above the city, during moderate to strong events (Kp 6+) a display is possible. Lincoln is slightly north of the central Midlands at ~53°N magnetic latitude and the surrounding flat Lincolnshire landscape means northern horizons are wide and open.
What Kp is needed for aurora near Lincoln?
Kp 6 from dark sites in the Lincolnshire Wolds or on the North Sea coast. Lincoln sits at ~53°N magnetic latitude - slightly north of the other Midlands cities - which gives a marginally lower threshold than Birmingham or Leicester.
Are the Lincolnshire Wolds good for aurora?
Yes. The Wolds are one of England's least appreciated dark sky areas. The chalk ridge above sea level with minimal development to the north gives Bortle 4 conditions that are rare this far south. The area around Normanby le Wold and Caistor is particularly dark.
Is the Lincolnshire coast good for aurora?
The north Lincolnshire coast around Saltfleetby and Theddlethorpe faces north-east over open North Sea. It is very flat and very dark with essentially no development for 100+ km to the north. The coast is about 40 minutes from Lincoln. Good for Kp 6 displays when the aurora is active enough to be visible over the sea horizon.
How does Lincoln compare to Nottingham and Derby for aurora?
Lincoln sits fractionally further north at ~53°N magnetic latitude versus ~52°N for the other East Midlands cities. This gives a slightly lower Kp threshold. The flat Lincolnshire landscape also means wider north-facing horizons than the Peak District fringe, though the area lacks the altitude of Derbyshire.