What is the best time of year to see the northern lights?

Late September through late March. Aurora activity itself is roughly constant year-round, but you need long hours of true darkness, and only the winter half of the year provides them at aurora latitudes. September–October and February–March combine dark skies with milder temperatures and statistically clearer nights than midwinter.

What is the best time to see the northern lights in Alaska?

Fairbanks sits directly under the auroral oval and offers viewable displays on most clear nights from late August to mid-April. The strongest window is late February to early April: nights are still 10+ hours long, cloud cover is at its annual minimum, and temperatures are far more manageable than in December and January.

What time of night is best for aurora viewing?

Roughly 10 pm to 2 am local time, centred on magnetic midnight. Plan on at least three hours outside per attempt and three consecutive nights in a destination to beat cloud cover.

Do I need to go north of the Arctic Circle?

No. The auroral oval passes over Fairbanks, Tromsø, Abisko, Rovaniemi, northern Iceland and Yellowknife — all reachable without crossing into the high Arctic. Getting away from city light matters more than a few extra degrees of latitude.

Guide

Best time to see the northern lights

Aurora activity barely changes with the seasons — your odds do. What actually decides a successful trip is how many hours of true darkness you get, how often the sky is clear, and how long you can stay out in the cold. Here is how the months compare.

Month-by-month aurora conditions

Month	Darkness	Clear skies	Notes
September	Good	Good	Aurora season opens; mild nights, reflections on unfrozen lakes.
October	Very good	Fair	Long nights arrive, first snow — a strong shoulder month.
November	Excellent	Fair	Very dark, but cloudier and colder in most regions.
December	Excellent	Poor	Maximum darkness, minimum clear skies. Bring patience.
January	Excellent	Poor	Coldest month; excellent when a clear window opens.
February	Excellent	Good	Best overall balance: dark, clearer, snow-covered landscapes.
March	Very good	Very good	Equinox boost to geomagnetic activity; clearest skies of the season.
April	Fair	Very good	Season closes as nights shorten quickly.

Where to go

United States

Fairbanks

See month-by-month climate scores for Fairbanks

Norway

Tromsø

See month-by-month climate scores for Tromsø

Iceland

Reykjavík

See month-by-month climate scores for Reykjavík

Finland

Rovaniemi

See month-by-month climate scores for Rovaniemi

Frequently asked questions

What is the best time of year to see the northern lights?: Late September through late March. Aurora activity itself is roughly constant year-round, but you need long hours of true darkness, and only the winter half of the year provides them at aurora latitudes. September–October and February–March combine dark skies with milder temperatures and statistically clearer nights than midwinter.
What is the best time to see the northern lights in Alaska?: Fairbanks sits directly under the auroral oval and offers viewable displays on most clear nights from late August to mid-April. The strongest window is late February to early April: nights are still 10+ hours long, cloud cover is at its annual minimum, and temperatures are far more manageable than in December and January.
What time of night is best for aurora viewing?: Roughly 10 pm to 2 am local time, centred on magnetic midnight. Plan on at least three hours outside per attempt and three consecutive nights in a destination to beat cloud cover.
Do I need to go north of the Arctic Circle?: No. The auroral oval passes over Fairbanks, Tromsø, Abisko, Rovaniemi, northern Iceland and Yellowknife — all reachable without crossing into the high Arctic. Getting away from city light matters more than a few extra degrees of latitude.