The Icelandic Meteorological Office has assured us that Friday night might be one of the best opportunities for Aurora viewing this week: The Kp index, which measures the strength of the solar storm which causes the Aurora, is a 5 high. More importantly, though, the sky over all of West Iceland and most of the south and north, will clear up by midnight, offering us a potentially unobstructed view of nature's greatest light show.
Get ready for a spectacular show
The IMO explains that the 0-9 Kp geomagnetic index can be used to predict the intensity and beauty of the Aurora over Iceland: An activity of as little as 2, low can produce beautiful Northern Lights in Iceland, including beautiful dancing green ribbons, while an activity of 3 moderate can be dazzling, according to the IMO. A level 5 has the possibility of delivering the truly spectacular shows you see in the advertisements for Northern Lights tours, including vibrant colorful shows, including purple and maroon waves, and even red splashes.
Of course we can never be certain when it comes to the Northern Lights, and that it's impossible to predict them with any certainty. The key to catching the Northern Lights is always patience and luck. We can never count on the weather forecast in Iceland, and you should always check back with the IMO to see the updated forecast.
The sun will set at 16:45 (4:45 pm), and it will be dark from 17:42 (5:42 pm) until 08:43. The best time to see the aurora is usually late evening and around midnight.
Where to go?
If you are hoping to view the Northern Lights be sure to check out our guide to great Aurora viewing spots in Reykjavík and surrounding areas. In case you decide to view the Aurora from Grótta island at the tip of Reykjavík peninsula, be sure to pay attention to the tides! You don't want to find yourself stranded by the incoming tide, like a group of travelers who were Aurora hunting yesterday.
Read more: Group of Aurora hunting travelers trapped on Grótta island in Reykjavík rescued by ICE-SAR
The Icelandic Meteorological Office has assured us that Friday night might be one of the best opportunities for Aurora viewing this week: The Kp index, which measures the strength of the solar storm which causes the Aurora, is a 5 high. More importantly, though, the sky over all of West Iceland and most of the south and north, will clear up by midnight, offering us a potentially unobstructed view of nature's greatest light show.
Get ready for a spectacular show
The IMO explains that the 0-9 Kp geomagnetic index can be used to predict the intensity and beauty of the Aurora over Iceland: An activity of as little as 2, low can produce beautiful Northern Lights in Iceland, including beautiful dancing green ribbons, while an activity of 3 moderate can be dazzling, according to the IMO. A level 5 has the possibility of delivering the truly spectacular shows you see in the advertisements for Northern Lights tours, including vibrant colorful shows, including purple and maroon waves, and even red splashes.
Of course we can never be certain when it comes to the Northern Lights, and that it's impossible to predict them with any certainty. The key to catching the Northern Lights is always patience and luck. We can never count on the weather forecast in Iceland, and you should always check back with the IMO to see the updated forecast.
The sun will set at 16:45 (4:45 pm), and it will be dark from 17:42 (5:42 pm) until 08:43. The best time to see the aurora is usually late evening and around midnight.
Where to go?
If you are hoping to view the Northern Lights be sure to check out our guide to great Aurora viewing spots in Reykjavík and surrounding areas. In case you decide to view the Aurora from Grótta island at the tip of Reykjavík peninsula, be sure to pay attention to the tides! You don't want to find yourself stranded by the incoming tide, like a group of travelers who were Aurora hunting yesterday.
Read more: Group of Aurora hunting travelers trapped on Grótta island in Reykjavík rescued by ICE-SAR
