Live aurora forecast
Northern lights in Lerwick tonight and this season
Aurora probability over Lerwick right now from NOAA, the Kp index the city needs by geomagnetic latitude, the nights that get dark enough, calculated from the sun, and whether any guided tour passes the catalogue filter.
In short
Northern lights in Lerwick need a Kp index of 3 or more, because the city sits at 61.8° 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 Lerwick (sun 18° below the horizon) run from 22 August to 20 April. No guided aurora tour from Lerwick passes the catalogue filter of 4.3 stars and 20 reviews yet. 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 Lerwick: 3 or more, from 61.8° N geomagnetic latitude (WMM2025 dipole)
- Fully dark nights in Lerwick (sun 18° below the horizon) run from 22 August to 20 April.
- Aurora probability over Lerwick from NOAA OVATION, refreshed every 15 minutes with the fetch time shown
- No guided aurora tour in the catalogue passes the filter yet
- Kp forecast for the next 3 days in 3-hour slots, and the other places in Scotland for comparison
On this page
1Aurora over Lerwick right now
Data: NOAA SWPC, fetched 13:17 UTC. Aurora probability by destination from the NOAA OVATION model, forecast for 9 Oct, 14:19 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 Lerwick needs
Lerwick lies at 60.2° N, which is 61.8° 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 Lerwick from Kp 3, 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 Lerwick 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 Lerwick (sun 18° below the horizon) run from 22 August to 20 April. From 11 May to 1 August the sky never gets darker than nautical twilight, so only a strong display shows, low on the horizon. Dates are an own calculation from the sun's declination for the latitude of Lerwick, 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 Scotland for the northern lights
Scotland is the part of the United Kingdom with the best odds. Shetland, where the locals call the aurora the Mirrie Dancers, needs Kp 3, and Edinburgh needs Kp 4, which happens several times in an active winter. The north coast, Orkney and the Isle of Skye have the darkest skies on the mainland side.
6Lerwick compared with the other places in Scotland
The table ranks the 2 places in Scotland on this site by the Kp they need. Lerwick is the best placed with Kp 3.
| Place | Latitude | Geomagnetic | Kp needed | Tours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lerwick | 60.2° N | 61.8° N | 3 | 0 |
| Edinburgh | 56.0° N | 58.1° N | 4 | 0 |
7Northern lights tours in Lerwick
No guided aurora tour from Lerwick passes the catalogue filter of 4.3 stars and 20 reviews yet. The aurora probability above does not depend on tours: a dark spot outside the lights of the town is the first thing to find.
| Fact | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Coordinates | 60.2° N, 1.1° W | site destination list |
| Geomagnetic latitude | 61.8° N (WMM2025) | NOAA NCEI, own calculation |
| Kp needed | 3+ | NOAA rule of thumb |
| Fully dark nights | 22 August to 20 April | own calculation (Meeus), USNO definitions |
| Too bright for faint aurora | 11 May to 1 August | own calculation (Meeus), USNO definitions |
| Tours that pass the filter | none yet, 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 Lerwick?
Kp 3 or more. Lerwick sits at 61.8° N geomagnetic latitude, and NOAA's rule of thumb puts the edge of the auroral oval there from Kp 3. A brighter display can show low on the northern horizon one level earlier.
When is the best time to see the northern lights in Lerwick?
Fully dark nights in Lerwick (sun 18° below the horizon) run from 22 August to 20 April. 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 Lerwick in summer?
From 11 May to 1 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 Lerwick?
None in the catalogue passes the filter of 4.3 stars and 20 reviews yet, so this page shows the probability and the Kp needed for Lerwick without tours.
Is Lerwick the best place in Scotland for the northern lights?
By Kp needed, yes: Lerwick needs Kp 3, the lowest of the 2 places in Scotland on this site. Clouds and light decide the rest.
Why does the Lerwick 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, 3, does not change: it is geography.
Sources (4)
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
- 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.
Plan
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