G2 Watch for 9 October, Kp 6 Aurora Peak
Kp Forecast editorial team · · 2 min read
NOAA SWPC has a G2 geomagnetic storm watch active, issued on 6 October at 16:33 UTC. The largest Kp over the next three days is 6 on Friday, 9 October 2026, peaking in the 18-21 UTC slot. Every destination on the list has a forecast Kp at or above the Kp it needs.
| Day | Largest Kp | Peak slot (UTC) | NOAA scale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, 9 October 2026 | 6 | 18-21 | G2 |
| Saturday, 10 October 2026 | 4 | 00-03 | below G1 |
| Sunday, 11 October 2026 | 5 | 03-06 | G1 |
Data: NOAA SWPC, read 9 October at 07:43 UTC.
What NOAA SWPC has issued for 9 October 2026
According to NOAA SWPC, a G2 geomagnetic storm watch is active. It was issued on 6 October at 16:33 UTC and predicts a storm at G2 level. The full list of alerts, watches and warnings is published on the NOAA SWPC alerts page.
How high does the Kp go in the next three days?
Per the NOAA SWPC 3-day forecast, the largest Kp per day is:
- Friday, 9 October 2026: Kp 6, peak slot 18-21 UTC, G2
- Saturday, 10 October 2026: Kp 4, peak slot 00-03 UTC, below G1
- Sunday, 11 October 2026: Kp 5, peak slot 03-06 UTC, G1
The largest Kp in the whole forecast is 6. The strongest window is therefore the evening of 9 October in UTC terms.
Which destinations have enough forecast Kp?
Every destination on the list has a forecast Kp at or above the Kp it needs. The list runs from Ilulissat, Greenland and Longyearbyen, Svalbard at Kp 1 needed, through Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada and Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland at Kp 2, Anchorage, Alaska and Lerwick, Shetland, Scotland at Kp 3, Edinburgh, Scotland at Kp 4, to Kiel, northern Germany at Kp 6. A full set of places is on the northern lights locations page.
What else has to line up for the northern lights?
A forecast Kp at or above the local threshold is one part of the picture. NOAA notes on its tips for viewing aurora that a dark sky and clear weather matter too. It remains open whether cloud cover will cooperate at any given place. The 27-day outlook gives a daily largest Kp only, not a promise for a specific night.
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Frequently asked questions
Is a G2 geomagnetic storm watch active for the northern lights on 9 October 2026?
Yes. NOAA SWPC has a G2 watch active, issued on 6 October at 16:33 UTC, predicting a G2 geomagnetic storm.
What is the largest Kp in the 3-day northern lights forecast?
The largest Kp is 6 on Friday, 9 October 2026, in the 18-21 UTC slot. Saturday reaches Kp 4 and Sunday reaches Kp 5.
Which destinations have a forecast Kp at or above what they need for the northern lights?
All destinations on the list qualify, from Ilulissat, Greenland and Longyearbyen, Svalbard at Kp 1 needed up to Kiel, northern Germany at Kp 6 needed.
Does a high Kp guarantee northern lights at a given place?
No. NOAA notes that a dark sky and clear weather are also needed, so a forecast Kp at or above the local threshold is only part of the picture.
Text written with AI from NOAA SWPC data and automatically checked against editorial rules before publication. Figures come from the linked sources. Kp Forecast is not an official space weather service.