Can I see the southern lights tonight?
Mostly near the poles tonight. The forecast peaks at Kp 2.0 in the next 24 hours, which usually keeps the southern lights at high southern latitudes.
Updated 4 min ago from NOAA's Kp forecast. Latest observed Kp: 2.33 (2026-10-18 03:00 UTC). Your city's page adds tonight's clouds and Moon.
Tonight, city by city
The Kp a city usually needs to see the southern lights low on the horizon, against tonight's forecast. Clouds not included; open a city for its full score.
| City | Kp needed | Tonight (Kp 2.0) |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney, Australia | 9 | Unlikely tonight |
| Melbourne, Australia | 7 | Unlikely tonight |
| Cape Town, South Africa | 9+ | Unlikely tonight |
| Perth, Australia | 9 | Unlikely tonight |
| Auckland, New Zealand | 9 | Unlikely tonight |
| Adelaide, Australia | 8 | Unlikely tonight |
| Gqeberha, South Africa | 9+ | Unlikely tonight |
| Christchurch, New Zealand | 6 | Unlikely tonight |
| Wellington, New Zealand | 7 | Unlikely tonight |
| Hobart, Australia | 5 | Unlikely tonight |
| Dunedin, New Zealand | 5 | Unlikely tonight |
Questions
Can I see the southern lights tonight?
It depends on three things: how strong tonight’s geomagnetic activity gets (the Kp index), how far your city is from the auroral zone, and whether your sky is clear and dark. This page shows the first two live; your city page adds the cloud forecast and the Moon.
What Kp do I need to see the aurora?
Roughly: Kp 1–3 for places under the auroral zone, Kp 5 for cities around 53° magnetic latitude, Kp 7 for around 48°, and Kp 8–9 for rare sightings much closer to the equator. These are rules of thumb; the aurora is often seen low on the horizon, and cameras pick it up before eyes do.
What time is best?
Usually within an hour or two of local midnight, but activity comes in bursts, so if a storm is forecast, keep checking from dusk to dawn.
Where should I look?
Face south, away from city lights, with a clear view of the horizon. A phone on night mode often shows colour your eyes can’t.
Looking for the other hemisphere? See the northern lights tonight.
Data: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (public domain). Magnetic latitudes: AACGM-v2. Kp thresholds are our heuristic (how the score works). Independent; not endorsed by NOAA.
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