Canada/Weather Tools/Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) Tracker
Canadian Auroral Oval Live Forecast

Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) Tracker

Real-time planetary Kp-index, geomagnetic storm tracking, and tonight's sky cloud cover index for Canada's premier dark sky preserves and northern auroral oval destinations.

Planetary K-Index

Geomagnetic Activity Index

Kp 4
4.3
Scale: 0.0 (Calm) to 9.0 (Extreme)
Active Geomagnetic Field
Southern viewing boundary tonight reaches down to approximately 54°N (Edmonton, Prince George, Saskatoon).
Planetary Kp Storm Index:Kp 4.3
0 (Quiet)3 (Unsettled)5 (G1 Storm)7 (G3 Storm)9 (Extreme)
Peak Viewing Window

Tonight's Prime Window

10:30 PM – 3:00 AM
Local Magnetic Midnight (~1:15 AM) is peak intensity
Moon Phase: Waning Crescent (Ideal dark sky)
Dark Sky Preserves: Maximum clarity
Tip: Allow your eyes 20 minutes to adapt to total darkness without looking at phone screens.

Tonight's Canadian Aurora Hotspots & Cloud Cover

Live night sky clarity forecast across Canada's sub-arctic and mountain dark sky preserves

Northwest Territories (62.5°N)Exceptional

Yellowknife

Directly under the auroral oval. Crystal clear sub-arctic skies tonight.

Cloud Cover
12%
Best Window
11:00 PM – 2:30 AM
Official UNESCO / RASC Dark Sky Sanctuary
Yukon (60.7°N)High

Whitehorse

Low humidity and stable atmosphere over the Yukon valley.

Cloud Cover
25%
Best Window
11:30 PM – 3:00 AM
Manitoba (58.8°N)High

Churchill

Hudson Bay coastline provides open northern horizon without light pollution.

Cloud Cover
30%
Best Window
10:45 PM – 2:00 AM
Official UNESCO / RASC Dark Sky Sanctuary
Alberta (52.9°N)High

Jasper (Dark Sky Preserve)

World second-largest dark sky preserve. Zero light interference.

Cloud Cover
18%
Best Window
12:00 AM – 3:30 AM
Official UNESCO / RASC Dark Sky Sanctuary
Alberta (56.7°N)Moderate

Fort McMurray

Patchy cloud cover drifting south from Lake Athabasca.

Cloud Cover
40%
Best Window
11:15 PM – 2:45 AM
Yukon (64.1°N)Exceptional

Dawson City

Midnight Dome overlook provides a 360-degree panorama of dancing green ribbons.

Cloud Cover
15%
Best Window
10:30 PM – 2:00 AM
Official UNESCO / RASC Dark Sky Sanctuary
Nunavut (63.7°N)Moderate

Iqaluit

Frobisher Bay marine cloud patches intermittent between midnight hours.

Cloud Cover
55%
Best Window
11:00 PM – 2:00 AM

Aurora Photography & Sub-Zero Safety Guide

Camera Settings

Use manual mode: Wide aperture (f/1.4 - f/2.8), ISO 1600-3200, shutter speed 2-8 seconds depending on aurora movement speed. Use a heavy tripod.

Battery Conservation

Sub-arctic Canadian winter cold (-30°C) drains lithium-ion batteries rapidly. Keep spare batteries in inside jacket pockets next to body warmth.

Sub-Zero Clothing

Thermal base layer, fleece mid-layer, windproof down parka, insulated sub-zero boots, and balaclava. Standing still in snow chills you much faster.