# Northern lights in Scotland tonight and this season

> Aurora probability over Lerwick right now from NOAA, the Kp each of the 2 places in Scotland needs by geomagnetic latitude, the season and 0 guided tours.

Canonical: https://kpforecast.com/scotland/
Updated on: 2026-10-09

Live aurora odds for 2 places in Scotland, the Kp each one needs, the season, and the guided tours that pass the catalogue filter. Data: NOAA SWPC, refreshed every 15 minutes.

## In short

Northern lights in Scotland need Kp 3 or more at Lerwick, the best placed of the 2 spots on this page by geomagnetic latitude (61.8°). The aurora season in Scotland runs from late August to mid April, when nights are long enough, and the darkest months are November to February. The probability over each place right now comes from the NOAA OVATION model and refreshes every 15 minutes, with the time of the last fetch shown under each figure.

## Key points

- Kp needed: 3 at Lerwick, up to 4 at Edinburgh, by geomagnetic latitude
- 2 places in Scotland with a live OVATION probability on this page
- Aurora probability over Lerwick refreshes 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, from NOAA SWPC

## Aurora over Lerwick right now

Live figures on the web page, refreshed every 15 minutes.

## Why 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.

## The Kp each place in Scotland needs

The table ranks the places in Scotland by geomagnetic latitude, which is what decides how strong a storm has to be before the auroral oval reaches them. NOAA puts the edge of the oval at about 66 degrees geomagnetic for Kp 0 and moves it 2 degrees toward the equator per Kp level. The full method, including why the figure is conservative, is on the [data and method page](https://kpforecast.com/data-and-method/).

## Kp forecast for the next 3 days

Live figures on the web page, refreshed every 15 minutes.

## When to see the northern lights in Scotland

The aurora season in Scotland runs from late August to mid April, when nights are long enough, and the darkest months are November to February.

## Northern lights tours in Scotland

No guided aurora tour in Scotland passes the catalogue filter of at least 4.3 stars and 20 reviews on the booking site right now, so this page shows the live odds and the Kp needed instead.

## Places in Scotland for the northern lights, by geomagnetic latitude

| Place | Latitude | Geomagnetic latitude | Kp needed | Tours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lerwick | 60.2° N | 61.8° | 3 | 0 |
| Edinburgh | 56.0° N | 58.1° | 4 | 0 |

## Frequently asked questions

### Can you see the northern lights in Scotland?

Yes, when the Kp index reaches the level a place needs and the sky is dark and clear. Lerwick needs Kp 3 or more by the NOAA rule used on this site, and Edinburgh needs Kp 4. The live probability for each place in Scotland is on this page and refreshes every 15 minutes.

### What Kp index do you need for the northern lights in Scotland?

Between Kp 3 and Kp 4 depending on the place. The figure comes from geomagnetic latitude: NOAA puts the edge of the auroral oval at about 66 degrees for Kp 0 and moves it 2 degrees toward the equator per Kp level, and it is conservative, because NOAA also notes that aurora is often visible hundreds of kilometres equatorward of that edge. The data and method page explains the calculation and its limits.

### When is the best time to see the northern lights in Scotland?

The aurora season in Scotland runs from late August to mid April, when nights are long enough, and the darkest months are November to February. Clear, dark nights matter as much as the Kp, so the cloud forecast for the dates decides the real view.

### Which place in Scotland has the best aurora odds tonight?

The cards on this page rank the 2 places in Scotland by the NOAA OVATION probability for the current forecast hour. Lerwick has the lowest Kp requirement, so it leads on quiet nights, but local cloud decides what is actually seen.

### Are there guided northern lights tours in Scotland?

No guided aurora tour in Scotland passes the catalogue filter of at least 4.3 stars and 20 reviews on the booking site right now. The page shows the live odds and the Kp needed so a visit can still be timed with the forecast.

### Does Scotland have polar night or midnight sun?

No. The places in Scotland on this page lie outside the polar circles, so every night of the aurora season has real darkness, and the limiting factor is the Kp index rather than daylight.

## Sources

- [NOAA SWPC, tips on viewing the aurora](https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/tips-viewing-aurora), checked on 2026-10-09
- [NOAA NCEI, World Magnetic Model 2025, geomagnetic pole](https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/world-magnetic-model), checked on 2026-10-09
- [NOAA SWPC, OVATION aurora forecast model](https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/aurora-30-minute-forecast), checked on 2026-10-09