Northern lights in Wales tonight
United Kingdom · 52° magnetic latitude · Kp 6-7 threshold
Kp 1 is well below the Kp 6-7 threshold needed for aurora to be visible from Wales.
7-day outlook for Wales
Based on CME arrival predictions from NASA DONKI. Arrival times ±6 hours.
auroratonight.space
What Kp is needed here?
Wales sits at a magnetic latitude of approximately 52°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 6-7 before the auroral oval expands far enough south to be visible from here.
At Kp 6-7, visibility is possible from Wales 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 Wales
Light pollution is the biggest obstacle after cloud cover. These sites give you the best dark northern horizon within reach.
Eryri (Snowdonia) Dark Sky Reserve
Get directions ↗International Dark-Sky Reserve covering the whole national park. Open moorland in the Carneddau range and Mynydd Mawr give excellent north-facing sky views.
Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) Dark Sky Reserve
Get directions ↗International Dark-Sky Reserve in south Wales. The central plateau above Pen y Fan and the Fan Brycheiniog ridge offer Bortle 2-3 conditions on clear nights.
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
Get directions ↗The north-facing headlands around St David's and Strumble Head give open Atlantic views with minimal light to the north. One of the least light-polluted coastlines in Wales.
Cambrian Mountains
Get directions ↗The largely uninhabited upland spine of mid Wales. The highest ground around Plynlimon gives Bortle 2 conditions. Access via the A44 from Aberystwyth.
Mynydd Epynt, Powys
Get directions ↗Open military training range (check access dates) with moorland at 400-500 m elevation in mid Wales. Substantially darker than the surrounding valleys.
Best time to see the northern lights in Wales
At 52°N magnetic latitude, Wales 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 Wales'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 Wales?
Average nights per month the Kp reached Wales'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 Wales
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 Manchester Tonight
Manchester shares a similar Kp threshold to Wales.
Read →Northern Lights London Tonight
London has the highest Kp threshold in the UK - Kp 7+.
Read →Tips for Viewing the Northern Lights
Dark sites, timing, and practical advice for aurora watching.
Read →What Is the Kp Index?
What Kp 6-7 means and when G2/G3 storms tend to occur.
Read →Aurora photographs from Wales
Real photos sourced from Wikimedia Commons.
Aurora over Wales 
Aurora over Wales 
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