Northern lights in Yorkshire tonight
Northern England · 53° magnetic latitude · Kp 6 threshold
Kp 1 is well below the Kp 6 threshold needed for aurora to be visible from Yorkshire.
7-day outlook for Yorkshire
Based on CME arrival predictions from NASA DONKI. Arrival times ±6 hours.
auroratonight.space
What Kp is needed here?
Yorkshire 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 Yorkshire 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 Yorkshire
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 ↗High escarpment on the western edge of the North York Moors with a broad, open northern view. Bortle 3-4 skies on the plateau away from the A170.
Hole of Horcum
Get directions ↗Open moorland depression on the A169 Pickering-Whitby road. Elevation helps, and the open sky and minimal settlement give good conditions.
Yorkshire Dales - Ingleborough area
Get directions ↗The high limestone plateau around Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent gives altitude and open sky. Some of the darkest areas in the Yorkshire Dales.
Flamborough Head
Get directions ↗East Yorkshire chalk headland. Open North Sea view facing north-east. No light pollution north of the headland. Accessible by road.
Barden Moor, Wharfedale
Get directions ↗Open grouse moor south of the Yorkshire Dales. Accessible from the B6265. Lower altitude than the main Dales, but significantly darker than the main towns.
Best time to see the northern lights in Yorkshire
At 53°N magnetic latitude, Yorkshire 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 Yorkshire'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 Yorkshire?
Average nights per month the Kp reached Yorkshire'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 Yorkshire
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 Newcastle Tonight
Newcastle sits one step north - visible at Kp 5-6.
Read →Northern Lights Manchester Tonight
Manchester and Yorkshire share a similar Kp threshold.
Read →Tips for Viewing the Northern Lights
Dark sites, timing, and what to look for on an active night.
Read →What Is the Kp Index?
How to read Kp and what Kp 6 means in practice.
Read →Aurora photographs from Yorkshire
Real photos sourced from Wikimedia Commons.
Aurora over Yorkshire 
Aurora over Yorkshire 
Aurora over Yorkshire 
Aurora over Yorkshire 
Aurora over Yorkshire 
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