Northern lights over Lerwick tonight — aurora forecast
Live geomagnetic conditions vs what Lerwick, UK actually needs to see the aurora borealis (northern lights).
🟢 Likely tonight
Geomagnetic activity is high enough — get away from city lights and look now.
Kp now
2.67
Tonight's max (forecast)
6
Lerwick needs
Kp 4.2
Geomagnetic lat.
57.5°
Live data: NOAA SWPC planetary K-index · refreshes every 30 min · get a free storm alert
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🌌 Kp 6 tonight — G2 storm · Aurora is possible from your area tonight.
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What it takes to see the aurora borealis (northern lights) from Lerwick
Aurora visibility is set by your geomagnetic latitude — your position relative to Earth's magnetic pole, not the geographic one. Lerwick sits at 57.5° geomagnetic. The auroral oval hovers near 66° in quiet conditions and expands toward the equator as geomagnetic storms strengthen: roughly 2° per step of the Kp index. For Lerwick that means a moderate-to-strong storm (Kp 4.2+) pushes the oval close enough to see glow on the northern horizon.
How to actually catch it
- Get away from city lights with a clear view of the northern horizon — light pollution is the #1 killer of borderline displays.
- Best window: 22:00–02:00 local time; best seasons: around the equinoxes, and dark winter months at high latitudes.
- Your camera sees more than your eyes: a 5-10s phone night-mode exposure reveals green/red glow invisible to the naked eye.
- Storms spike with little warning — get a free storm alert and check Aurora forecast when Kp jumps.
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FAQ
Can I see the northern lights tonight in Lerwick?
Good odds: tonight's Kp is 6, above the Kp 4.2 Lerwick needs. Get away from city lights and watch the northern horizon between about 22:00 and 02:00. Updated every 30 minutes from NOAA SWPC data.
Can you see the aurora from Lerwick?
Yes, when geomagnetic activity is strong enough. Lerwick sits at geomagnetic latitude 57.5°, which means the aurora becomes visible on the northern horizon at roughly Kp 4.2 — during moderate to strong storms.
What Kp index does Lerwick need for aurora?
About Kp 4.2. The auroral oval sits near 66° geomagnetic latitude in quiet conditions and pushes roughly 2° toward the equator with each Kp step; Lerwick's geomagnetic latitude is 57.5°. You don't need the oval directly overhead — NOAA notes the aurora can be seen on the horizon from up to 1000 km away, but that reach grows with the storm: this figure credits none of it near the oval, where low-Kp aurora is faint and low, and up to 2.5 Kp at mid-latitudes, where storm aurora is tall and bright.
Which direction should I look for the aurora in Lerwick?
North. From Lerwick the auroral oval lies toward the north magnetic pole, so the aurora appears low on the northern horizon first. Pick a spot with an open northward view, away from city lights — your phone's night mode picks up glow your eyes miss.
When is the best time to see the aurora?
Around local midnight (22:00–02:00), on dark clear nights away from city lights, and statistically around the equinoxes (March/April and September/October). Solar maximum — happening now — delivers the most storms.
Aurora forecasts for cities near Lerwick
- Aurora forecast for Kirkwall — needs Kp 4.6
- Aurora forecast for Aberdeen — needs Kp 5.3
- Aurora forecast for Inverness — needs Kp 5.1
- Aurora forecast for Bergen — needs Kp 4.2
- Aurora forecast for Stavanger — needs Kp 4.7
- Aurora forecast for Edinburgh — needs Kp 5.7
This city elsewhere on Cosmik
More from the sky over Lerwick
The aurora isn't the only show: the ISS passes over Lerwick on a predictable schedule, the Sun's live flare level tells you when the next storm is brewing, and Cosmik's live 3D map shows everything in orbit right now.
