What Kp index do I need to see the northern lights in Nome?

Nome sits at a magnetic latitude of about 62.6 degrees, which generally becomes naked-eye visible around Kp 2 or higher. Camera visibility with a long exposure typically starts at a somewhat lower Kp than naked-eye visibility.

Northern Lights Forecast

Aurora Forecast Tonight: Nome, Alaska

Q: Will I see the aurora in Nome tonight?

It depends on tonight's real geomagnetic activity (the Kp index) and whether the sky over Nome is actually clear. Aurora Forecast Tonight combines both live, updated for Nome's exact coordinates, rather than relying on the Kp index alone.

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

Tonight's chance of seeing aurora

Camera only (long exposure)

LocationNome, Alaska

Geomagnetic Forecast · NOAA / NASA

Magnetic latitude62.6°

Confirmed Kp right nowKp 0.7

Weather Forecast · NWS (US)

Clear-sky estimate27% clear skies

For entertainment purposes only, not a guarantee of visibility. Don't plan travel or spending around this number alone.

About aurora viewing in Nome

Nome sits on Alaska's western coast, at nearly the same high latitude as Fairbanks, with wide open tundra and minimal light pollution across a huge surrounding area.

Where locals actually go

The flat, treeless tundra surrounding Nome means an unobstructed horizon in almost any direction just outside town.

Best time of year

Nome's remoteness means genuinely dark skies are the norm rather than something to seek out, with the same late-August-to-April season as the rest of interior and western Alaska.

Will I see the aurora in Nome tonight?

Right now, Nome has a 8% chance based on tonight's real conditions: Kp 0.7 and 27% clear skies. Camera only (long exposure). This updates live, so check back closer to dark for the most accurate read, especially if the sky is currently cloudy where you are.

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

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