How to interpret the Aurora Forecast
The Icelandic Met Office measures solar activity. Combined with the Cloud Forecast, it will give you clues on where the Northern Lights are likely to be seen.
Use the slider at the bottom of the graphic to adjust the date and time of the forecast.
Please note that the forecast changes frequently and is most reliable at about 6 pm of the current day. This is however not a guarantee for seeing the Aurora.
Cloud cover
A simple rule: No clear sky = No northern lights.
There are different cloud levels that have different impacts.
Change the display for cloud types using the tabs at the top of the graphic.
High clouds don’t really bother us in Iceland. Focus on the lower and middle clouds, and look for white spots or lighter shades on the map.
Solar activity
The 9-point scale on the right side of the page is a simple way to judge your chances of seeing something.
0-2: Low, almost no, activity. Anything you see may appear as pale as a cloud.
2-3: Moderate, but with good chances to catch the Northern Lights. This is the most usual forecast. Go out!
4-6: Húrra! A big solarstorm is coming, don’t miss your chance to catch some amazing Aurora displays!
7-9: Highly unusual, maybe your friends and relatives at home will see the Northern Lights, too!
Leirvogur – Magnetic Observatory
The magnetic observatory Leirvogur measures the magnetic disturbances above Iceland. When the graphs start moving, solar winds are rattling the magnetic field of the Earth which is usually followed by outbursts of auroral activity. Click on the picture to see the real-time-record.
Space Weather Prediction Center
Join a guided northern lights tour!
To fully enjoy the Northern Lights experience we recommend a guided tour. You will save time and worries, the guides are aware of the conditions both in weather and solar activity and you’ll be in great company with like-minded people. We fully recommend any of the companies below. We’ve carefully selected these collaborators since we’ve known them for years and know they are reliable and professional.
GELDINGADALUR ERUPTS!
We have been expecting it, and it finally happened: a new eruption has started in Iceland – and it might go on for some time.
Just kilometres away from Reykjavík, Geldingadalur is ejecting ancient magma from a freshly created fissure, and might soon turn into a new volcano. Find more here.
BREAKING: ICELAND TO OPEN AGAIN FOR ALL TRAVELERS – INCLUDING UK AND US
Iceland’s Justice Minister Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir just announced that Iceland will open its borders to travelers from outside Schengen who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or present a certificate confirming COVID-19 antibodies. The new regulations...
MONTH-BY-MONTH GUIDE TO THE ICELANDIC WINTER SEASON
Northern lights and winter season go hand-in-hand. Longer hours of darkness, accompanied by good weather, solar activity, and a bit of luck, often translate into amazing Aurora Borealis displays – a truly unmissable show!
The northern lights are potentially visible all winter long, but statistically not two months are the same. To help you choose the best time for your Aurora Borealis getaway, here is our month-to-month guide to winter in Iceland.
THE 10 BEST NORTHERN LIGHTS ACCOMMODATIONS IN ICELAND IN 2021
Seeing the northern lights dance in the Icelandic sky is every traveler’s dream. Although the phenomenon can be seen anywhere around the country, light pollution sometimes spoils the view.
By opting for a full-comfort countryside northern lights stay, you will maximise your chances of success – literally at your doorstep.
Here are our 10 favourite country accommodations for seeing the northern lights in 2021.
BREAKING: IMMINENT VOLCANIC ERUPTION IN ICELAND
Iceland‘s last eruption: Bárðarbunga 2014. Photo: Icelandic Met Office Iceland is likely to do justice to its name again: a volcanic eruption is imminent at the so-called "Land of Fire and Ice". Home of the biggest glaciers in Europe and thousands of active volcanoes,...
THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SEEING THE NORTHERN LIGHTS IN ICELAND
There is perhaps nothing more magical than witnessing the beauty of a northern lights display, and it has been a lifelong dream of many. However, those unpredictable, ever dancing lights don’t always show up on cue.
Here is all you need to know to make your aurora dream come true.
Aurora Activity Roundup – September 2020
Aurora Activity Roundup - September 2020 By Chris Ayliffe, Traveo Source: FrozenBritAbroad In Iceland, September is usually the real start of the Northern Lights season. Though we often get some glimpses accompanying the growing darkness towards the end of August,...
THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT STEVE – WHY THE AURORA NAMED STEVE ISN’T AN AURORA AT ALL
Since 2016, STEVE has been the term on the lips of Aurora enthusiasts across the world. Though STEVE is not considered part of the Aurora, its indistinguishable similarities and sightings have led to an intensified level of curiosity in understanding how STEVE comes into visibility. So, what is STEVE, and is it at all related to the northern lights?
Find out more about the phenomenon here.
5 REASONS WHILE WE LOVE AUTUMN AURORAS
The northern lights are visible between September and April. Experiencing the phenomenon is always a treat, but Auroras happening during our short lived Autumn are among our absolute favourite, especially to photograph. See why here.
DO AURORAS OCCUR ON OTHER PLANETS?
The northern lights are one of the most impressive natural phenomena our planet experience. As their main fuel is the solar plasma traveling across the Solar System, do our fellow planets have Auroras too, and how do they differ from the ones on Earth? Find out more about extra-terrestrial Auroras here.
GREAT NEWS FOR NORTHERN LIGHTS HUNTERS: THE NEXT SOLAR CYCLE HAS STARTED!
A new solar cycle seems to have now started, as we have passed the recent solar minimum. Enhanced solar activity and great northern lights are ahead of us! Find our more here.
COVID-19 AND TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS IN ICELAND – HERE’S ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
Aurora Reykjavík looks forward to welcoming you to the Land of Ice and Fire.
Learn about the current COVID-19 travel restrictions and requirements in Iceland here.
THE BEST TIME TO SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS IN ICELAND
When is it best to travel to Iceland in order to see the northern lights? Learn everything you need to know about the Aurora season in Iceland, and more, in our article here.
SPRING AURORAS – WHY YOU SHOULD HUNT THE NORTHERN LIGHTS BETWEEN FEBRUARY AND MID-APRIL
The season between February and mid-April is a magical time for seeing the northern lights in Iceland. Snowy landscapes, spring equinox and milder weather are some of the reasons to choose this time of the year for your Icelandic holiday. Find out more here.
Best of Iceland – 3-in-1 Special Deal for 2021/2022
All in one! – Three must-do tours all perfectly packaged in one!
This easy travel package is for those wanting to explore the best of Iceland while staying in Reykjavík.
Within two days, join us on the must-do Golden Circle which is comprised of the amazing Gullfoss Waterfall; Iceland´s only erupting hot spring, Geysir; as well the site of the world´s oldest existing parliament, Þingvellir National Park.
When night falls we set off in search of the magical and mysterious Northern Lights. The next day, we’ll head towards Iceland’s majestic south shore and explore Waterfalls, the famous black sand beach and the picturesque town of Vík.