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Northern lights in Alaska

Yes. Alaska is the best place in the US to see the northern lights, and in Interior Alaska around Fairbanks the aurora shows on many clear, dark nights even when activity is low. The catch is darkness: around Fairbanks, the sky is too bright from late April to late August.

Tonight's northern lights forecast

Loading NOAA's Kp forecast…

How strong a storm each city in Alaska needs

The farther a place is from the magnetic pole, the stronger the geomagnetic storm needed to push the aurora into view. These levels come from each city's geomagnetic latitude and NOAA's storm scale, which says how far south aurora is usually seen at each level. They are for aurora low on the northern horizon from a dark spot; overhead displays need more. Across Alaska the level ranges from Kp 1.2 in Fairbanks to Kp 3.9 in Juneau.

CityGeomagnetic latitudeAurora usually needsTonight
Fairbanks65.7°Kp 1.2
Anchorage62°Kp 3.7
Juneau61.7°Kp 3.9

How these levels are worked out: our methods.

How often you can see the aurora in Alaska

Alaska sits under or close to the auroral oval, the ring around the magnetic pole where aurora is most frequent. Interior Alaska, around Fairbanks, has the best odds. The National Park Service notes that areas north of Denali, toward Fairbanks, see aurora more often than areas to the south toward Anchorage. In the far north and Interior the lights can appear on quiet nights. Southcentral and Southeast Alaska usually need more activity, which the table above shows city by city.

Season matters more than storms here. The University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute (UAF GI) puts the Fairbanks viewing season at about August 21 to April 21. Outside that window the sky stays too bright even during a strong display. UAF GI also finds the odds about twice as high near the equinoxes as near the solstices, so September and March are especially good.

Where to watch

  • Around Fairbanks: UAF GI suggests Chena Lakes Recreation Area, Tanana Lakes Recreation Area, Cleary Summit, Ester Dome, Wickersham Dome, Murphy Dome, Haystack Mountain on the Elliott Highway, and highway turnouts away from town lights.
  • Denali National Park & Preserve: the park says the sky is dark enough for aurora from about mid-August to mid-April. The park says nearly the whole Denali area is free of light pollution, so any spot with a clear view of the northern horizon works.
  • Other national parks: the Park Service lists Cape Krusenstern, Katmai, Kenai Fjords, Kobuk Valley, Lake Clark, Noatak and Yukon-Charley Rivers among places to catch the aurora. Most are remote, so they suit a planned trip rather than a quick drive.

Tips for Alaska

  • Plan around midnight. UAF GI says 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. gives the best odds over Interior Alaska in winter.
  • Get out of the city glow. Anchorage and Fairbanks both light up the sky. A short drive to a dome or lake shore makes a faint aurora much easier to see.
  • Watch the clouds as closely as the forecast. UAF GI says continental areas under the aurora zone, including Interior Alaska, have some of the clearest skies. The Park Service adds that clear skies are most common in midwinter.
  • Moonlight washes out faint aurora. Check the moon phase and favor nights when the moon is down during the darkest hours.

Forecasts and local resources

The UAF Geophysical Institute aurora forecast shows NOAA’s 3-day and 27-day forecasts in Alaska time. NOAA’s 30-minute forecast shows where the aurora is right now. For the basics of planning a night out, read how to see the northern lights.

Questions and answers

Can you see the northern lights in Anchorage?

Yes, but less often than in Fairbanks, because Anchorage lies farther south of the main aurora zone and has more city light. Drive out of town to a spot with a clear view north for the best chance.

Can you see the northern lights in Alaska in summer?

Not in June or July. The aurora is still there, but the University of Alaska Fairbanks says the sky over Fairbanks isn't dark enough to show it from about April 22 to August 20.

How cold is it when you watch the aurora in Fairbanks?

Very cold. The National Park Service notes that clear skies are most common in midwinter, when the air is dry, so dress in layers, keep spare camera batteries in an inside pocket, and use the forecast to choose your nights rather than waiting outside for hours.

Which direction should I look in Alaska?

In the Interior the aurora is often overhead or even to the south during active nights, so scan the whole sky. Farther south, in Anchorage or on the Kenai Peninsula, look north.

Other states

Sources