Northern Lights Tonight in Fairbanks, Alaska

Live visibility odds for Fairbanks, combining the current geomagnetic Kp index with real local cloud cover, not just one or the other.

What Kp do you need in Fairbanks?

Those frequencies are how often the geomagnetic threshold itself is reached, before weather. Cloud cover, moonlight and local light pollution all cut into it, which is why the live score at the top of this page multiplies the geomagnetic odds by tonight's actual sky over Fairbanks.

Which way to look from Fairbanks

At this magnetic latitude the aurora can appear overhead or even to the south of you during an active night, so a view in every direction is worth having.

About aurora viewing in Fairbanks

Fairbanks sits almost directly beneath the auroral oval, which is why it's consistently ranked among the best aurora-viewing locations on Earth, not just in the United States. On a clear night during aurora season, visible activity is the norm here, not the exception.

Where locals actually go

Murphy Dome, a high overlook just outside town, is the classic local vantage point with a wide, unobstructed view north. Chena Hot Springs Resort, about an hour east, pairs aurora watching with geothermal hot springs while you wait.

Best time of year

Aurora season runs late August through late April; outside that window, Fairbanks' near-Arctic summer daylight makes the sky too bright to see anything.

Will I see the aurora in Fairbanks tonight?

Right now, Fairbanks has a 20% chance based on tonight's real conditions: Kp 1.7 and 28% clear skies. Naked-eye possible. This updates live, so check back closer to dark for the most accurate read, especially if the sky is currently cloudy where you are.

A good Kp forecast isn't the whole story. See what else actually determines whether you'll see it →