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Northern lights tonight

Iceland — all 8 regionsLive Kp from NOAACloud cover hourlySeason: Sep–Apr

Live Kp index from NOAA, cloud cover for all eight regions, moon phase and the darkness window — updated hourly.

Are the northern lights visible in Iceland tonight?

Aurora forecast for Iceland — current Kp index

The planetary Kp index is 1.0 right now. Quiet geomagnetic conditions — only a strong dark sky is likely to show faint aurora tonight.

Data verified 1 September 2026, 01:35 · source: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (planetary K-index) · refreshes hourly

Geomagnetic
—Kp
Loading live Kp…
Moon phase
Waning gibbous
83% illuminated
Darkness window
—
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Best region tonight
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Iceland is one of the best places on Earth to see the northern lights. It sits directly under the auroral oval, so the aurora appears at a Kp index as low as 2 on any dark, clear night. The season runs September to April — October, February and March are the sweet spot of long dark nights and settled weather.

This forecast is live. The Kp index comes from NOAA’s space-weather service every three hours, cloud cover for all eight regions from Open-Meteo hourly, and the moon phase from the clock — so the visibility score for tonight reflects real conditions, not a guess. Iceland’s weather is hyper-local: if your region shows cloud, the next one an hour’s drive away may be clear.

Aurora activity tonight — region by region

Open on map →

Reykjavík Area

Fair

Capital city + Grótta — most light pollution

30%
Aurora visibility
Kp1
Clouds0%
Temp8°C
View region →

Reykjanes Peninsula

Fair

Near KEF airport & Blue Lagoon — easy access

30%
Aurora visibility
Kp1
Clouds0%
Temp5°C
View region →

South Coast

Fair

Vík, waterfalls, black beaches — popular route

30%
Aurora visibility
Kp1
Clouds0%
Temp7°C
View region →

West Iceland

Fair

Snæfellsnes — dramatic, less crowded

30%
Aurora visibility
Kp1
Clouds0%
Temp4°C
View region →

Westfjords

Low

Remote & untouched — very dark skies

18%
Aurora visibility
Kp1
Clouds47%
Temp5°C
View region →

North Iceland

Low

Akureyri & Mývatn — northern capital

11%
Aurora visibility
Kp1
Clouds74%
Temp6°C
View region →

Eastfjords

Low

Fjords & fishing villages — quiet, scenic

4%
Aurora visibility
Kp1
Clouds100%
Temp6°C
View region →

Highlands

Fair

Wilderness — limited winter access

30%
Aurora visibility
Kp1
Clouds0%
Temp3°C
View region →

How to chase

Chase the clear sky

Iceland's weather is local. If your region shows clouds, drive 30–60 minutes to the next one — the forecast above updates per region for exactly this reason.

Escape light pollution

Reykjavík & Keflavík skies wash out weaker displays. Drive 15–20 km away from town lights for dramatically better visibility.

Patience pays

Aurora arrives in waves. Wait at least 45 minutes. The strongest displays often come in short bursts — get out of the car and keep looking up.

Dress for –10°C

Even when it's 0°C at dusk, wind chill at 1am on a headland is brutal. Wool base layer, insulated jacket, hat, gloves, thermal pants. Non-negotiable.

Check before you chase

Tonight’s verdict

One yes/no answer — Kp, clearest region and darkness window, updated every 10 minutes.

Iceland Pulse

Today’s weather, roads and alerts across Iceland in one daily briefing.

Can I drive today?

Live road verdicts for the main routes before you set out after dark.

Live webcams

Point a camera at the sky before you drive — live feeds around Iceland.

Live alerts

Road closures, weather warnings and volcanic activity as they happen.

Aurora on the map

See tonight’s regional visibility on the interactive map.

The 2026 total eclipse

Aurora owns the night sky here — on August 12, 2026, Iceland’s sky does something rarer, in daylight.

Iceland weather by month

Month-by-month temperatures, daylight and rain — see why the dark half of the year is aurora season.

Cars & campers

−12%exclusive discountFree cancellationKEF airport pickup 24/74.8
Dacia Duster 4x4
SUV

Dacia Duster 4x4

Cheapest real 4WD in the fleet — gravel, the Westfjords and easy summer F-roads without truck prices.

TransmissionManual
FuelPetrol/diesel
Seats5
Drive4WD
From
5,355 kr6,300 kr/day
Reserve −12%
VW Caravelle
9-seater

VW Caravelle

Whole family or friend group in one car — gear in the back, room to stretch.

TransmissionAutomatic
FuelDiesel
Seats9
Drive2WD
From
12,750 kr15,000 kr/day
Reserve −12%
Key Camper Wild Duo
Camper

Key Camper Wild Duo

Sleep right by the trailhead, wake up at the falls — F-road ready from mid-June.

TransmissionManual
FuelPetrol
Sleeps2
Drive4WD
From
5,304 kr6,240 kr/day
Reserve −12%

Tours near the northern lights

Free cancellationSmall groups
(Cruise Ships) Lake Mývatn and Goðafoss
Sightseeing

(Cruise Ships) Lake Mývatn and Goðafoss

Lake Mývatn and the surrounding area are an absolute must if you're exploring the North!

Duration6 hours 30 minutes
HighlightsNorth Iceland
TypeSightseeing
From
25.300 ISK
View tour →
(RS) Lake Myvatn & Godafoss Waterfall Day Tour from Akureyri
Iceland tour

(RS) Lake Myvatn & Godafoss Waterfall Day Tour from Akureyri

Discover the wonderland of Lake Myvatn and Godafoss Waterfall with an experienced local tour guide.

Duration6 hours
HighlightsNorth Iceland
From
25.900 ISK
View tour →
A Gourmet golden circle - a taste of Iceland combined with amazing nature attractions!
Lagoons & spa

A Gourmet golden circle - a taste of Iceland combined with amazing nature attractions!

Embark on a private adventure through the Golden Circle with Northern Adventurer.

Duration8 hours
HighlightsReykjavík area
TypeLagoons & spa
From
159.000 ISK
View tour →

Frequently
asked questions

Are the northern lights visible in Iceland tonight?
Check the live forecast at the top of this page — it shows the current Kp index from NOAA, cloud cover for all eight regions and tonight’s darkness window, refreshed hourly. As a rule: September to April, any dark clear night with Kp 2+ gives Iceland a real chance. From May to July the sky never gets dark enough, whatever the Kp says. Aurora sightings in Iceland cluster exactly where those three conditions meet — darkness, clear sky, Kp 2+.
What's the best time of year to see the northern lights in Iceland?
The aurora season runs September to April, when nights are dark enough. Peak months are October, February, and March — a sweet spot of darkness, decent weather, and fewer storms than deep winter. June and July are daylight 24/7 so aurora is technically invisible even if the Kp is high.
What does the Kp index mean for Iceland specifically?
The Kp index measures geomagnetic activity on a 0–9 scale. Iceland sits directly under the auroral oval, so you get good displays at surprisingly low Kp — a Kp of 2 is enough for visible auroras on a dark, clear night. Kp 4+ produces bright overhead displays. Kp 6+ means rare, dramatic activity visible from all over the country.
Do I need a car to see the aurora?
Technically no, realistically yes. Iceland's weather is hyper-local — you can watch clear sky turn to thick cloud in 20 minutes. A rental car lets you drive to the next region the moment the forecast shifts, which is how most successful aurora nights actually go. Book at /car-rental with code MAP for 12% off.
How accurate is this forecast?
The Kp index comes directly from NOAA SWPC (the US government space weather service) and updates every 3 hours. Cloud cover is from Open-Meteo's ICON-D2 model at region-center coordinates, refreshed hourly. Visibility % is a composite of Kp strength, cloud cover, and moon brightness — a simple model, but directionally right. Always double-check with your own eyes: if the sky is black and clear and the Kp is above 2, go outside.
Can I see the aurora in Reykjavik?
Yes on strong nights (Kp 4+), but you'll miss the faint displays because of city lights. Drive 15–20 km outside town — Seltjarnarnes, Grotta lighthouse, or Mosfellsbaer all work. For bright displays, you don't even need to leave the city center.
Where does this data come from?
Everything on this page is fetched live from free public APIs every time you load it. Kp index from NOAA SWPC (services.swpc.noaa.gov). Weather and cloud cover from Open-Meteo (open-meteo.com). Moon phase is calculated from your device's clock. No AI, no hardcoded values, no guesswork.
Iceland now
from 31 Aug 06:10
7°C · partly cloudyWind 5 m/sRing Road (R1) openAurora Kp 3.33Daylight 06:08 – 20:48Webcams