Live aurora forecast
Northern lights in Kiruna tonight and this season
Aurora probability over Kiruna right now from NOAA, the Kp index the city needs by geomagnetic latitude, the nights that get dark enough, calculated from the sun, and the 3 guided tours that pass the catalogue filter.
In short
Northern lights in Kiruna need a Kp index of 1 or more, because the city sits at 65.7° N geomagnetic latitude and NOAA's rule of thumb puts the edge of the auroral oval at about 66° for Kp 0, 2° closer to the equator per Kp level. Fully dark nights in Kiruna (sun 18° below the horizon) run from 12 September to 30 March. 3 guided tours leave from Kiruna with at least 4.3 stars and 20 reviews, from 120 USD. The aurora probability over the city right now, from NOAA's OVATION model, is on this page and refreshes every 15 minutes.
Key points
- Kp needed in Kiruna: 1 or more, from 65.7° N geomagnetic latitude (WMM2025 dipole)
- Fully dark nights in Kiruna (sun 18° below the horizon) run from 12 September to 30 March.
- Aurora probability over Kiruna from NOAA OVATION, refreshed every 15 minutes with the fetch time shown
- 3 guided tours pass the filter of 4.3 stars, 20 reviews and an aurora title
- Kp forecast for the next 3 days in 3-hour slots, and the other places in Sweden for comparison
On this page
1Aurora over Kiruna right now
Data: NOAA SWPC, fetched 14:10 UTC. Aurora probability by destination from the NOAA OVATION model, forecast for 9 Oct, 15:10 UTC. Aurora also needs a dark and clear sky. Kp needed: NOAA puts the edge of the auroral oval at about 66° geomagnetic latitude for Kp 0, 2° closer to the equator per Kp level. Geomagnetic latitude from the WMM2025 dipole pole (NOAA NCEI).
2The Kp index Kiruna needs
Kiruna lies at 67.9° N, which is 65.7° N geomagnetic latitude on the WMM2025 dipole. NOAA's viewing tips put the edge of the auroral oval at about 66° geomagnetic for Kp 0 and move it about 2° closer to the equator with each Kp level, down to 48° at Kp 9. So the oval reaches Kiruna from Kp 1, the threshold the cards on this site compare with the Kp measured right now. NOAA also notes that aurora can often be observed hundreds of kilometres equatorward of the oval's edge, so a bright display can show low on the northern horizon one Kp level earlier.
3Kp forecast for the next 3 days
| UTC | Fri 9 Oct | Sat 10 Oct | Sun 11 Oct | Mon 12 Oct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00-03 | 4.00 | 4.67 G1 | 3.00 | |
| 03-06 | 3.67 | 5.67 G2 | ||
| 06-09 | 3.00 | 4.33 | ||
| 09-12 | 3.00 | 3.00 | ||
| 12-15 | 4.67 G1 | 1.67 | 2.67 | |
| 15-18 | 5.00 G1 | 2.33 | 2.33 | |
| 18-21 | 6.00 G2 | 2.67 | 2.00 | |
| 21-00 | 5.67 G2 | 2.67 | 2.67 |
Data: NOAA SWPC. Slots before now are NOAA estimates, the rest are predicted values.
4When the sky over Kiruna is dark enough
The aurora needs a dark sky as much as it needs Kp, and darkness is a matter of latitude and date. Fully dark nights in Kiruna (sun 18° below the horizon) run from 12 September to 30 March. From 16 April to 26 August the sky never gets darker than nautical twilight, so only a strong display shows, low on the horizon. The polar night lasts from 11 December to 31 December, 21 days with the sun below the horizon all day, when the aurora can show in the afternoon. The midnight sun lasts from 27 May to 15 July, 50 days. Dates are an own calculation from the sun's declination for the latitude of Kiruna, with the US Naval Observatory definitions of twilight, and can be a day off at the edges. Clouds and moonlight are the other half of the question: the home page shows the moon phase for each of the next 27 days.
5Why Sweden for the northern lights
Swedish Lapland has two bases an hour apart. Abisko is known for a drier, clearer sky than the coast, sheltered by the mountains, and for the Aurora Sky Station on Mount Nuolja. Kiruna has the airport and the ice hotel in nearby Jukkasjärvi. Both sit at the edge of the oval, so Kp 1 is enough on a clear night.
6Kiruna compared with the other places in Sweden
The table lists both places in Sweden on this site. Both need Kp 1.
| Place | Latitude | Geomagnetic | Kp needed | Tours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abisko | 68.3° N | 66.3° N | 1 | 3 |
| Kiruna | 67.9° N | 65.7° N | 1 | 3 |
7Northern lights tours in Kiruna
3 guided tours from Kiruna pass the catalogue filter (at least 4.3 stars, 20 reviews and the aurora in the title), from 120 USD per person. Prices are starting prices read from the booking catalogue and change with the date. All tours in the country.
| Fact | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Coordinates | 67.9° N, 20.2° E | site destination list |
| Geomagnetic latitude | 65.7° N (WMM2025) | NOAA NCEI, own calculation |
| Kp needed | 1+ | NOAA rule of thumb |
| Fully dark nights | 12 September to 30 March | own calculation (Meeus), USNO definitions |
| Too bright for faint aurora | 16 April to 26 August | own calculation (Meeus), USNO definitions |
| Polar night | 11 December to 31 December, 21 days | own calculation (Meeus), USNO definitions |
| Midnight sun | 27 May to 15 July, 50 days | own calculation (Meeus), USNO definitions |
| Tours that pass the filter | 3, from 120 USD, counted 9 Oct 2026 | booking catalogue |
Source: NOAA NCEI, World Magnetic Model 2025, geomagnetic pole, checked on 9 Oct 2026.
Latest northern lights posts
Frequently asked questions
What Kp index do you need to see the northern lights in Kiruna?
Kp 1 or more. Kiruna sits at 65.7° N geomagnetic latitude, and NOAA's rule of thumb puts the edge of the auroral oval there from Kp 1. A brighter display can show low on the northern horizon one level earlier.
When is the best time to see the northern lights in Kiruna?
Fully dark nights in Kiruna (sun 18° below the horizon) run from 12 September to 30 March. The darkest skies of the month are the 5 nights around the new moon. The home page shows the moon for each of the next 27 days.
Can you see the northern lights in Kiruna in summer?
From 16 April to 26 August the sky never gets darker than nautical twilight, so only a strong display shows, low on the horizon.
How many northern lights tours are there in Kiruna?
3 guided tours from Kiruna pass the filter of 4.3 stars and 20 reviews, from 120 USD per person, counted from the booking catalogue on 9 Oct 2026.
Is Kiruna the best place in Sweden for the northern lights?
By Kp needed both places in Sweden on this site are level at Kp 1, Kiruna included. Clouds and light decide the rest.
Why does the Kiruna aurora probability on this page change?
It comes from NOAA's OVATION model, a forecast for the next 30 to 90 minutes, which this site re-reads at most every 15 minutes. The Kp needed, 1, does not change: it is geography.
Sources (5)
Sources
- NOAA SWPC, tips on viewing the aurora, checked on 9 Oct 2026
- NOAA NCEI, World Magnetic Model 2025, geomagnetic pole, checked on 9 Oct 2026
- NOAA SWPC, OVATION aurora forecast model, checked on 9 Oct 2026
- Viator Partner API, catalogue and operator listings, checked on 9 Oct 2026
- US Naval Observatory, rise, set and twilight definitions, checked on 9 Oct 2026
Written and maintained by the Kp Forecast editorial team. Independent site, not a space weather agency. Data: NOAA SWPC.
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