Northern Lights Tonight in Fort McMurray, Alberta

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

What Kp do you need in Fort McMurray?

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 Fort McMurray.

Which way to look from Fort McMurray

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.

Best time of year

Aurora season in Fort McMurray runs from late August through April, for the simple reason that you need genuine darkness and summer nights are too short and too bright. Activity clusters around the equinoxes — late September and late March are statistically the most active weeks of the year, an effect of how Earth's magnetic field lines up with the solar wind at those points in the orbit.

Will I see the aurora in Fort McMurray tonight?

Right now, Fort McMurray has a 56% chance based on tonight's real conditions: Kp 2.0 and 83% 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 →