Aurora destinations · Iceland & Greenland
Northern lights in Akureyri
Iceland · 65.68°N, 18.09°W
Akureyri lies under the auroral oval, so aurora is often overhead: a dark, clear night has good odds even when activity is low (magnetic latitude 65°). Light pollution: there is some town glow.
Open the live forecast for Akureyri
At a glance
- Good odds: from any Kp at a dark site
- Best months: December, November and September
- Best weeks in the coming year: 4–17 Nov · 2–22 Dec · 30 Dec – 12 Jan
- Too light for aurora: 5 May – 10 Aug (bright nights)
Month by month
A typical night: real darkness and moon, average aurora activity (Kp 2014–2025) and satellite cloud cover (NASA, 2001–2025). Long-range odds, not a forecast.
| Month | Typical night | Clear sky | Dark hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8% | 18% | 15 h |
| February | 7% | 17% | 13 h |
| March | 7% | 16% | 9 h |
| April | 6% | 17% | 4 h |
| May | Too light | 17% | – |
| June | Too light | 19% | – |
| July | Too light | 15% | – |
| August | 5% | 18% | 3 h |
| September | 8% | 17% | 8 h |
| October | 7% | 17% | 12 h |
| November | 8% | 19% | 15 h |
| December | 8% | 19% | 16 h |
Tips for Akureyri
- Clouds decide most nights: check the hour-by-hour forecast, and the “Clearer skies nearby” card for a spot within a drive.
- Aurora is usually best between about 22:00 and 02:00 local time; give your eyes 15 minutes in the dark.
- Get away from the town lights: even 10–20 km makes a difference.
Nearby destinations
Reykjavík · Vík · Kangerlussuaq · Nuuk