Live aurora forecast
Northern lights in Rovaniemi tonight and this season
Aurora probability over Rovaniemi 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 39 guided tours that pass the catalogue filter.
In short
Northern lights in Rovaniemi need a Kp index of 2 or more, because the city sits at 63.6° 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 Rovaniemi (sun 18° below the horizon) run from 9 September to 3 April. 39 guided tours leave from Rovaniemi with at least 4.3 stars and 20 reviews, from 69 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 Rovaniemi: 2 or more, from 63.6° N geomagnetic latitude (WMM2025 dipole)
- Fully dark nights in Rovaniemi (sun 18° below the horizon) run from 9 September to 3 April.
- Aurora probability over Rovaniemi from NOAA OVATION, refreshed every 15 minutes with the fetch time shown
- 39 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 Finland for comparison
On this page
1Aurora over Rovaniemi 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 Rovaniemi needs
Rovaniemi lies at 66.5° N, which is 63.6° 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 Rovaniemi from Kp 2, 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 Rovaniemi 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 Rovaniemi (sun 18° below the horizon) run from 9 September to 3 April. From 20 April to 22 August the sky never gets darker than nautical twilight, so only a strong display shows, low on the horizon. The midnight sun lasts from 6 June to 5 July, 30 days. Dates are an own calculation from the sun's declination for the latitude of Rovaniemi, 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 Finland for the northern lights
Finnish Lapland sells the aurora with glass igloos and husky farms. Rovaniemi sits on the Arctic Circle with the airport and the second longest tour list on this site, Levi is a ski resort further north, and Saariselkä is the quietest of the three with the darkest sky. Rovaniemi is just outside the oval's quiet edge, so it needs Kp 2 rather than 1.
6Rovaniemi compared with the other places in Finland
The table ranks the 3 places in Finland on this site by the Kp they need. Saariselkä and Levi share the lowest figure, Kp 1.
| Place | Latitude | Geomagnetic | Kp needed | Tours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saariselkä | 68.4° N | 65.2° N | 1 | 2 |
| Levi | 67.8° N | 65.0° N | 1 | 7 |
| Rovaniemi | 66.5° N | 63.6° N | 2 | 39 |
7Northern lights tours in Rovaniemi
39 guided tours from Rovaniemi pass the catalogue filter (at least 4.3 stars, 20 reviews and the aurora in the title), from 69 USD per person. Prices are starting prices read from the booking catalogue and change with the date. All tours in the country.
Northern Lights Rovaniemi: Guaranteed Viewing & Unlimited Mileage4.9 · 2,599 reviews · 8 hfrom 159 USD
Rovaniemi: 100% Money-Back Guarantee Aurora Tour + Free Photos4.9 · 893 reviews · 4 hfrom 159 USD
Rovaniemi: Northern Lights Hunt Max 8 + Pro Photos & 100% Refund4.9 · 883 reviews · 4 hfrom 228 USD
Rovaniemi: Northern Lights Hunt + Photos & 100% Guarantee Refund4.8 · 802 reviews · 4 hfrom 136 USD
Rovaniemi:%100 Guaranteed Northern Lights Hunt&Small Group4.9 · 633 reviews · 5 hfrom 91 USD
Rovaniemi Northern Lights Photography Small-Group Tour4.6 · 414 reviews · 5 hfrom 166 USD| Fact | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Coordinates | 66.5° N, 25.7° E | site destination list |
| Geomagnetic latitude | 63.6° N (WMM2025) | NOAA NCEI, own calculation |
| Kp needed | 2+ | NOAA rule of thumb |
| Fully dark nights | 9 September to 3 April | own calculation (Meeus), USNO definitions |
| Too bright for faint aurora | 20 April to 22 August | own calculation (Meeus), USNO definitions |
| Midnight sun | 6 June to 5 July, 30 days | own calculation (Meeus), USNO definitions |
| Tours that pass the filter | 39, from 69 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 Rovaniemi?
Kp 2 or more. Rovaniemi sits at 63.6° N geomagnetic latitude, and NOAA's rule of thumb puts the edge of the auroral oval there from Kp 2. A brighter display can show low on the northern horizon one level earlier.
When is the best time to see the northern lights in Rovaniemi?
Fully dark nights in Rovaniemi (sun 18° below the horizon) run from 9 September to 3 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 Rovaniemi in summer?
From 20 April to 22 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 Rovaniemi?
39 guided tours from Rovaniemi pass the filter of 4.3 stars and 20 reviews, from 69 USD per person, counted from the booking catalogue on 9 Oct 2026.
Is Rovaniemi the best place in Finland for the northern lights?
By Kp needed, Saariselkä is the best placed in Finland with Kp 1, and Rovaniemi needs Kp 2.
Why does the Rovaniemi 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, 2, 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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