Find your forecast
Search a UK city or use location to jump to the nearest forecast page.
All 54 UK locations are listed below.
Plan your UK aurora night
Check your local Kp threshold, cloud cover, and darkness window before heading out.
Tonight checklist
- Check your local Kp threshold in the region list below.
- Cloud cover under 30 percent improves odds.
- Look after astronomical twilight for the darkest window.
- Face north with an open horizon and minimal light pollution.
UK specific tips
- Best odds are in the islands and far north of Scotland.
- North England and Northern Ireland need higher Kp but can deliver in storms.
- Midlands and South need strong storms, dark skies, and patience.
Best times for the UK
Season, hours, and sky conditions make the difference.
Season
September to March gives the longest dark nights and best odds.
Hours
Typical window is 10pm to 2am local time. Use each city page for the best hour tonight.
Moon and clouds
Low clouds and a dim moon often matter more than a small Kp increase.
UK regions and cities
Each region shows the typical Kp needed. Tap a city for the local forecast.
Best odds Kp 4+
Shetland Islands
Highest UK latitude with dark horizons and frequent activity.
Best odds Kp 4+
Outer Hebrides
Remote Atlantic skies with very dark horizons.
Best odds Kp 4+
Orkney Islands
Open skies and low light pollution on the islands.
Best odds Kp 4+
Caithness and North Coast
Northern mainland coast with clear northern horizons.
Good odds Kp 4+ to Kp 5+
Highlands and Skye
Dark glens and coastal viewpoints with strong aurora chances.
Good odds Kp 5+
West Coast and Isles
Sea horizons and island viewpoints boost visibility.
Good odds Kp 5+
Cairngorms and Perthshire
Mountain skies with darker inland conditions.
Good odds Kp 5+
East Scotland
Coastal skies improve visibility during active nights.
Occasional Kp 5+
Central Scotland
Works best during stronger activity and clear skies.
Occasional Kp 5+ to Kp 6+
Northern Ireland
Best chances along dark coastlines and rural areas.
Occasional Kp 5+ to Kp 6+
Northumberland and Borders
Dark skies help when Kp rises above local thresholds.
Occasional Kp 6+
Yorkshire and Humber
Moorland escapes improve visibility during storms.
Occasional Kp 6+
North West England
Look north during stronger storms and clear skies.
Rare Kp 6+
Midlands
Requires stronger geomagnetic storms and very dark skies.
Rare Kp 6+ to Kp 7+
Wales
Best from the west coast and mountain viewpoints.
Rare Kp 7+
South West England
Coastal horizons help during strong storms.
Rare Kp 6+ to Kp 7+
South East and East England
Needs the strongest storms and the darkest skies you can reach.
All UK aurora locations (A-Z)
Quick access with local Kp thresholds.
Aberdeen Aberystwyth Aviemore Belfast Berwick-upon-Tweed Birmingham Brighton Bristol Caernarfon Cambridge Cardiff Carlisle Coleraine Dundee Durham Edinburgh Enniskillen Exeter Fort William Glasgow Hexham Hull Inverness Kirkwall Leeds Leicester Lerwick Liverpool Llandudno London Londonderry Manchester Newcastle Norwich Nottingham Oban Oxford Perth Pitlochry Plymouth Portree Portrush Portsmouth Scalloway Sheffield Southampton Stirling Stornoway Stromness Swansea Thurso Ullapool Wick York
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Get instant alerts when aurora appears tonight in the UK. Track Kp index, clouds, and moon phase in real-time. 72-hour forecast shows best viewing times.
Frequently Asked Questions
What KP do I need?
Your required KP depends on magnetic latitude. Northern locations need lower KP values. Check your city page for the exact threshold calculated from your MLAT.
When is the best time?
Use the "best hour tonight" feature on each city page. It combines KP forecast, cloud cover, and darkness window to find optimal viewing time.
Can I see aurora in summer?
Aurora needs darkness to be visible. Summer's long daylight and bright moonlight significantly reduce aurora visibility, even during strong activity.
How accurate are aurora predictions?
AuroraMe combines 4 reality factors: NOAA OVATION space weather, cloud coverage, moon phase, and darkness windows. Location-specific KP thresholds are calibrated from 3+ years of historical data (8,768+ measurements).
What's included in Aurora History?
Multi-year statistical analysis with best months algorithm, calendar heatmap (12 months × 4 weeks), yesterday's observation windows, and location-calibrated frequency (Lerwick ~50 nights/year vs London ~5 nights/year).
How do quiet hours work?
Quiet hours prevent notifications during sleep (default 11 PM - 7 AM, customizable per location). Progressive urgency: strong aurora activity overrides quiet hours. 30-minute cooldown between alerts.