Northern lights tonight: the verdict
Iceland — all 8 regionsLive Kp from NOAAUpdated every 10 minSeason: Sep–Apr
One answer, updated every 10 minutes — from the live Kp index, the clearest region's sky and tonight's real darkness window.
Unlikely tonight
Kp 0.7 is quiet. 90% cloud — mostly overcast even at the clearest region.
Are the northern lights visible in Iceland tonight?
No. Kp 0.7 is quiet. 90% cloud — mostly overcast even at the clearest region. The clearest sky right now is over North Iceland (90% cloud).
Data verified 19 July 2026, 01:28 · source: NOAA SWPC (Kp) + Open-Meteo (cloud cover) · refreshes every 10 minutes
—Kp
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Waxing crescent
19% illuminated
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¿Se ve la aurora boreal en Islandia hoy? No — índice Kp 0.7, cielo más despejado en North Iceland.
Si vede l’aurora boreale in Islanda stasera? No — indice Kp 0.7, cielo più sereno su North Iceland.
Where to go tonight
Full aurora forecast →Clearest sky right now: North Iceland at 90% cloud cover.
Check the sky yourself
All 36 webcams →Before you drive out
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asked questions
What Kp index do I need to see the aurora in Iceland?
Less than you think. Iceland sits directly under the auroral oval, so Kp 2 on a dark, clear night already shows visible aurora away from town lights. Kp 4+ brings bright overhead displays, and Kp 6+ is a rare all-country show.
What time tonight should I look?
The most active window is usually 22:00–02:00 Iceland time, but aurora comes in waves — displays can start within an hour of full darkness. Give it at least 45 minutes outside; the strongest bursts are short.
Can I see the northern lights in Iceland in summer?
No. From roughly mid-May to early August the sky never gets dark enough, even at high Kp. The season runs September to April — October, February and March are the sweet spot of long nights and settled weather.
The verdict says yes but my sky is cloudy — what now?
Drive. Iceland's weather is hyper-local, and the verdict uses the clearest of the eight regions. Check the per-region pages linked above, pick the one with the least cloud within driving distance, and go — that's how most successful aurora nights actually work.
How is this verdict calculated?
Three live inputs: the planetary Kp index from NOAA SWPC (updates every 3 hours), current cloud cover for eight Iceland regions from Open-Meteo (hourly), and the real darkness window from tonight’s sunset and sunrise. If a feed is down we say so — we never guess.
Do I need a car to chase the aurora?
Realistically yes — clear sky is a moving target here. A rental lets you follow the gaps in the cloud. Book at /car-rental/ with code mapoficeland for 15% off.