Aurora Tonight
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Northern lights Fairbanks tonight

Fairbanks sits at ~68°N magnetic latitude inside the auroral oval - the best aurora location in the USA. Kp 1–2 is sufficient on a clear night. Chena Hot Springs, Borealis Basecamp, and Cleary Summit give world-class aurora facilities. Watching aurora while soaking in geothermal hot springs is what most aurora lodge packages here are built around. Best season: August to April.

Aurora visibility — Fairbanks

Possible tonight

Kp 1 is at the threshold for Fairbanks. Aurora may be visible from a dark site if cloud cover permits.

Current Kp

1

of 9

Threshold for Fairbanks: Kp 1–2 Magnetic latitude: ~68°N Updated: 10 May, 11:08 UTC

What Kp is needed here?

Fairbanks sits at a magnetic latitude of approximately 68°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 1–2 before the auroral oval expands far enough south to be visible from here.

At Kp 1–2, visibility is possible from Fairbanks 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 Fairbanks

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

Cleary Summit

About 30 km north of Fairbanks on the Steese Highway. At 500 m elevation above the Fairbanks valley, Cleary Summit gives an elevated position above the city light dome with a clear north and northeast sky. A popular self-drive aurora chase location - local photographers and aurora tourists use the summit pullout as a base.

Chena Hot Springs Resort

About 60 km east of Fairbanks. The resort provides heated aurora viewing yurts, a famous aurora ice museum, and natural geothermal hot springs to warm up between viewing sessions. Situated in forested wilderness well away from city lights, the resort gives Bortle 2-3 conditions. Hot springs aurora watching - soaking in geothermal water while watching aurora overhead - is what most aurora lodge packages here are built around.

Borealis Basecamp

A dedicated aurora lodge about 30 km north of Fairbanks with heated aurora viewing pods positioned above the treeline. The pods are connected to sleeping quarters so guests can be woken when aurora appears. One of the most purpose-built aurora facilities in Alaska, comparable to Scandinavia's best glass igloo operations.

Other USA aurora forecasts

USA overview Anchorage Yellowknife Whitehorse

Related pages

Northern Lights USA

USA-wide aurora forecast hub.

Northern Lights Anchorage Tonight

Anchorage - Alaska's largest city, 500 km south.

Northern Lights Yellowknife Tonight

Yellowknife - Canada's aurora capital, same magnetic latitude.

Northern Lights Photography

Camera settings for hot springs and boreal forest aurora.

What Is the Kp Index?

Why Kp 1-2 is enough inside the auroral oval at 68°N.

Common questions

Aurora watching in Fairbanks - hot springs, aurora lodges, and Alaska.

Why is Fairbanks the best place in the USA for northern lights?
Fairbanks sits at 68°N magnetic latitude inside the auroral oval - the same band as Tromsø, Yellowknife, and Abisko. Kp 1-2 produces visible aurora on clear nights. The city is surrounded by boreal forest and tundra with minimal light pollution to the north. The aurora lodge industry has grown substantially to match international demand, with hot springs resorts, glass-pod cabins, and guided wilderness tours all available.
What Kp is needed for aurora in Fairbanks?
Kp 1-2 from Cleary Summit or the aurora lodges. At 68°N magnetic latitude, Fairbanks is inside the auroral oval. Even on quiet geomagnetic nights, a faint arc is often visible above the north horizon. Kp 2+ gives active displays overhead. The aurora season in Fairbanks is approximately 240 nights per year on clear nights - comparable to Yellowknife.
What is the hot springs aurora experience in Fairbanks?
Chena Hot Springs Resort, 60 km east of Fairbanks, operates natural geothermal hot springs pools outdoors. The resort keeps the pools open at night through the aurora season. Guests soak in water heated to 38-40°C while watching aurora overhead in air temperatures of -20 to -30°C. The contrast is extreme and memorable. The resort also has an ice museum and aurora viewing yurts.
When is the best time to see aurora in Fairbanks?
August to April. Fairbanks gets dark enough from mid-August - the equinox months of September and March are geomagnetically the strongest. Fairbanks winters are extreme (-40°C possible) so the aurora lodges with heated facilities are essential. The most popular time is late September to early April when aurora is active and temperatures, while cold, are more manageable than deep winter.
How do I get to Fairbanks?
Fly to Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) from Anchorage (Alaska Airlines/Ravn Alaska, ~1h) or from Seattle (Alaska Airlines, ~4h direct). Several US carriers serve Fairbanks from Seattle. From the UK and Europe, connect via Seattle, Vancouver, or Tokyo. Fairbanks is 510 km north of Anchorage on the Parks Highway - driving takes about 8 hours through open Alaskan wilderness.