Northern lights in Scotland tonight
United Kingdom · Kp 3 from Ullapool · 57° magnetic latitude
Kp 1 is well below the Kp 3 threshold needed for aurora to be visible from Scotland.
7-day outlook for Scotland
Tonight shows the live Kp reading. The nights after it show the Kp expected from any coronal mass ejection DONKI predicts will arrive that day, and a quiet baseline of Kp 2 where no arrival is forecast.
Based on CME arrival predictions from NASA DONKI. Arrival times ±6 hours.
auroratonight.space
What Kp is needed here?
Scotland's threshold comes from Ullapool, at a magnetic latitude of approximately 57°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 3 before the auroral oval expands far enough south to be visible from Ullapool.
At Kp 3, visibility is possible from Scotland 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 Scotland
Light pollution is the biggest obstacle after cloud cover. These sites give you the best dark northern horizon within reach.
Galloway Forest Park Dark Sky Park
Get directions ↗The UK's first Dark Sky Park, with Bortle 2-3 conditions across a large accessible area in south-west Scotland. Excellent northern horizon from the higher ground.
Cairngorms National Park
Get directions ↗Vast dark plateau at 600-1300 m altitude. Viewpoints along the A9 corridor and high glens give exceptional skies. Open year-round.
Isle of Skye - Trotternish Ridge
Get directions ↗The north end of Skye offers a clear northern horizon over the Minch with minimal light pollution. Accessible from the A855 road corridor.
Rannoch Moor
Get directions ↗One of the largest areas of wilderness in western Europe. Remote but accessible via the A82. A low Bortle rating on all sides.
Cape Wrath area, Sutherland
Get directions ↗Scotland's north-west corner. No light pollution to the north across open sea. Best accessed from Durness. Magnetic latitude ~58°N.
Orkney Islands
Get directions ↗At 59°N, Orkney sits at the latitude where aurora can be visible several times per year. Any high ground away from Kirkwall offers good conditions.
Best time to see the northern lights in Scotland
Scotland's aurora season runs from late September through to March, when nights are long enough for truly dark skies. The equinox months, September and March, bring a natural boost in geomagnetic activity, making them statistically the best of the season. Summer months bring too much twilight for aurora to be visible at this latitude.
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 Scotland's latitude.
April through August brings persistent astronomical twilight that washes out aurora completely. Even strong events (Kp 6+) remain invisible during this period because the sky never gets dark enough.
How often does the aurora appear in Scotland?
Average nights per month the Kp reached Scotland's threshold of 3+, from 15 years of geomagnetic data (2010–2024).
Counts the Kp 3+ 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 Scotland
Best window
The February to April window averages 45 aurora nights - the strongest consecutive stretch of the year.
How long to stay
For your best chance in September, plan at least 3 nights.
Related pages
Northern Lights UK
Live aurora forecast hub for all UK regions.
Read →Northern Lights Edinburgh Tonight
Local forecast for Edinburgh with Kp threshold and dark sky sites.
Read →Northern Lights Inverness Tonight
Inverness and the Scottish Highlands - the best aurora latitude in mainland UK.
Read →Tips for Viewing the Northern Lights
How to maximise your chances on any given night.
Read →What Is the Kp Index?
The scale that determines whether aurora can reach your latitude tonight.
Read →Aurora photographs from Scotland
Real photos sourced from Wikimedia Commons.
Aurora over Scotland
Aurora over Scotland
Aurora over Scotland
Aurora over Scotland
Aurora over Scotland
Aurora over ScotlandPlanning your aurora trip
In-depth guides to help you plan a trip to see the northern lights.
Travel GuideUKNorthern Lights Scotland - Complete Travel Guide
Shetland, Orkney, Highland coasts, and Galloway Forest - the UK's best aurora destinations.
PhotographyUKNorthern Lights Scotland - Photography Guide
Dark sky locations, foregrounds, and the best conditions for aurora photography in Scotland.
PhotographyUKScotland Aurora Photography Locations
Specific spots across the Highlands, Orkney, and Shetland rated for aurora photography.
