If you were hoping to catch the Northern Lights in Iceland this week you might be in luck: A powerful coronal mass ejection from the sun is expected to hit the earth's magnetic field over the northern hemisphere on Wednesday 6, producing a potentially spectacular Aurora over Iceland. Aurora activity of a Kp 6-7 magnitude is expected, according to the Icelandic Astronomical Web.
More importantly, the IMO is forecasting mostly clear skies over much of West Iceland and all of South Iceland on Wednesday evening. Without clear skies you cannot catch the Northern Lights, no matter how powerful the Aurora activity.
Beautiful Aurora Wednesday
If you were planning to catch a glimpse of the Aurora during your stay in Iceland you should keep your eyes on the sky on Wednesday. You should check the weather forecast and cloud cover with the The Icelandic Meteorological Office. The best chance to catch a clear sky, and therefore see the Northern Lights, in Reykjavík and West Iceland will be after 22:00.
The IMO explains that grade 2 (low activity) can be beautiful and grade 3 (moderate) can be dazzling. A grade 6 or 7 activity can produce some truly spectacular displays. A full moon is sure to make the night sky even more spectacular.
Be sure to dress warmly if you are heading for northern lights hunting as the mercury will drop to or below zero degrees Celsius (32 F) throughout the country in the evening. See IMO's forecast.
Read more: They camped out while travelling around Iceland hunting for the northern lights
According to IMO it will be dark from 21:16 (9:16 pm) to 5:37 (5:37 am). Sunset is at 20:25 (8:25 pm).
If you were hoping to catch the Northern Lights in Iceland this week you might be in luck: A powerful coronal mass ejection from the sun is expected to hit the earth's magnetic field over the northern hemisphere on Wednesday 6, producing a potentially spectacular Aurora over Iceland. Aurora activity of a Kp 6-7 magnitude is expected, according to the Icelandic Astronomical Web.
More importantly, the IMO is forecasting mostly clear skies over much of West Iceland and all of South Iceland on Wednesday evening. Without clear skies you cannot catch the Northern Lights, no matter how powerful the Aurora activity.
Beautiful Aurora Wednesday
If you were planning to catch a glimpse of the Aurora during your stay in Iceland you should keep your eyes on the sky on Wednesday. You should check the weather forecast and cloud cover with the The Icelandic Meteorological Office. The best chance to catch a clear sky, and therefore see the Northern Lights, in Reykjavík and West Iceland will be after 22:00.
The IMO explains that grade 2 (low activity) can be beautiful and grade 3 (moderate) can be dazzling. A grade 6 or 7 activity can produce some truly spectacular displays. A full moon is sure to make the night sky even more spectacular.
Be sure to dress warmly if you are heading for northern lights hunting as the mercury will drop to or below zero degrees Celsius (32 F) throughout the country in the evening. See IMO's forecast.
Read more: They camped out while travelling around Iceland hunting for the northern lights
According to IMO it will be dark from 21:16 (9:16 pm) to 5:37 (5:37 am). Sunset is at 20:25 (8:25 pm).
