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Northern Lights Forecast in the United Kingdom

Check the current UK aurora signal, then compare Shetland, central Scotland and Wales instead of relying on one country-wide Kp threshold.

Tonight's UK decision

Current Northern Lights Conditions Across the UK

Use the current Kp and G scale, Bz direction, local darkness and verified cloud state together. The UK does not have one national Kp threshold: Shetland can respond to weaker activity than Edinburgh or southern Britain.

Kp / G scale
Kp 2.0 · G0
Fresh
Observed 14 Oct, 12:00 UTC
IMF Bz
-0.3 nT
Fresh
Southward · more favourable

Location-level decision bands

Compare the place you can actually reach

Northern HemisphereChecked 14 Oct, 16:06 UTC

Shetland

Kp 3–5
Activity
Kp 2.0Below the local guideFresh
Local sky
100% cloudFresh
Darkness
Daylight — aurora is not observable

Decision confidence: medium

How to read these numbers

AACGM-v2 magnetic latitude 57.7°N

Medium — verified AACGM coordinate and fresh planetary Kp; the local band remains approximate

NOAA planetary K index · Fresh · observed 14 Oct, 12:00 UTC

Cloud · Fresh · cache refreshed 14 Oct, 15:35 UTC
MET Norway Locationforecast (cached by Aurora Hunt) ↗

Calculated solar altitude 5.5° · 14 Oct, 16:06 UTC

AACGM-v2 2.7.1 ↗ · epoch 2026-09-04 · 0 km

Check the live forecast for Shetland

Edinburgh

Kp 5–7
Activity
Kp 2.0Below the local guideFresh
Local sky
91% cloudFresh
Darkness
Daylight — aurora is not observable

Decision confidence: medium

How to read these numbers

AACGM-v2 magnetic latitude 52.7°N

Medium — verified AACGM coordinate and fresh planetary Kp; the local band remains approximate

NOAA planetary K index · Fresh · observed 14 Oct, 12:00 UTC

Cloud · Fresh · cache refreshed 14 Oct, 14:25 UTC
MET Norway Locationforecast (cached by Aurora Hunt) ↗

Calculated solar altitude 8.4° · 14 Oct, 16:06 UTC

AACGM-v2 2.7.1 ↗ · epoch 2026-09-04 · 0 km

Check the live forecast for Edinburgh

Cardiff

Kp 7–9
Activity
Kp 2.0Below the local guideFresh
Local sky
98% cloudFresh
Darkness
Daylight — aurora is not observable

Decision confidence: medium

How to read these numbers

AACGM-v2 magnetic latitude 47.2°N

Medium — verified AACGM coordinate and fresh planetary Kp; the local band remains approximate

NOAA planetary K index · Fresh · observed 14 Oct, 12:00 UTC

Cloud · Fresh · cache refreshed 14 Oct, 15:36 UTC
MET Norway Locationforecast (cached by Aurora Hunt) ↗

Calculated solar altitude 10.5° · 14 Oct, 16:06 UTC

AACGM-v2 2.7.1 ↗ · epoch 2026-09-04 · 0 km

Check the live forecast for Cardiff

Kp bands are magnetic-latitude screening ranges, not probabilities. Cloud, darkness and your view of the horizon still decide whether you can see a display.

What this means for tonight

Kp describes planetary disturbance, while Bz shows whether the solar wind is coupling favourably with Earth. Neither value proves that the aurora is visible from a particular UK location.

Solar wind / IMF Bz · Fresh · observed 14 Oct, 15:56 UTC

NOAA OVATION is a regional activity model. Bz, light pollution, the auroral oval and safe access also matter.

Check the local sky

Check cloud for your town and your northern horizon before heading out. Use the Met Office for a second weather check if the local forecast has not updated.

Where to look

Outside northern Scotland, a low, dark northern horizon is usually more useful than an overhead view. Faint red or grey structure may register on a camera before it is obvious to the eye.

Choose your next stop

Choose a region, then a city near your plans. Use the UK guide below for practical advice on finding a dark spot and watching tonight.

Use the UK same-night viewing workflow

Scotland

225 locations
View region Explore →

England

127 locations
View region Explore →

Wales

6 locations
View region Explore →

Northern Ireland

51 locations
View region Explore →

27-Day Forecast

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Download Aurora Hunt app for extended forecasts, AI Insights, push alerts, and cloud cover maps for all 409+ locations in the United Kingdom.

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Oct 15

Kp Index •••
Activity outlook •••
Cloud Cover •••

Oct 16

Kp Index •••
Activity outlook •••
Cloud Cover •••

Oct 17

Kp Index •••
Activity outlook •••
Cloud Cover •••

Aurora forecast questions and answers

Can I see the northern lights in the UK tonight?
Look for three things together: aurora activity, darkness and a clear sky to the north. Northern Scotland usually has better opportunities than places farther south, but a strong display can reach much more of the UK. Open your local forecast before heading out; a promising national outlook is only the starting point.
Which forecast should I use for my part of the UK?
Compare Shetland, Edinburgh and Cardiff to get a sense of how conditions differ from north to south, then open the forecast closest to you. Clear skies in Shetland will not tell you whether your own northern horizon is clear. A nearby dark spot can be more useful than a long drive toward a cloudy destination.
What Kp level should I look for in the UK?
There is no single number for the whole UK. The farther south you are, the stronger the activity usually needs to be. Use the Kp range beside your nearest location as a rough guide, then check the clouds and darkness. Even a high number cannot make aurora visible through thick cloud.
When should I go outside to look?
Choose a dark part of the evening or night when your local forecast shows a break in the clouds. There is no fixed time when aurora switches on, so check again before leaving and allow yourself time to watch. If the forecast has not updated, check the Met Office before making a longer journey.
Where should I look, and will it look like the photos?
Find an open northern horizon away from streetlights. A faint display may look pale or grey at first, while a camera picks up more colour. Let your eyes adjust to the dark and watch for changes; bright moonlight, nearby lamps and cloud can make a subtle display harder to notice.
How can Aurora Hunt help me catch the northern lights in the UK?
Use Aurora Hunt to keep local aurora forecasts, cloud maps and alerts together on your phone. It helps you follow a promising evening without refreshing this page all night, whether you are in Scotland or watching for a rarer display farther south. Download the app and have your forecast ready for the next clear night. Download Aurora Hunt

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Track Aurora Conditions in the United Kingdom

Track changes in northern lights activity for the United Kingdom, then confirm local darkness, cloud and safe access before going outside.

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