Northern lights in Fairbanks tonight
The aurora forecast for Fairbanks, Alaska, hour by hour: the Kp index NOAA expects, darkness, the Moon and the cloud forecast for the city.
Clouds in the way Sunday, October 25
The highest Kp expected after dark tonight is 2. Fairbanks needs about Kp 0 to 1 (most dark, clear nights) to see the aurora low on the northern horizon, and the sky cover forecast after dark averages 92%. The Moon is 100% lit.
| Time | Sky | Kp | Clouds | Moon | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 PM | Twilight | 2.00 | 91% | 11° | Not dark yet |
| 8 PM | Dark | 2.00 | 91% | 18° | Clouds in the way |
| 9 PM | Dark | 2.00 | 91% | 24° | Clouds in the way |
| 10 PM | Dark | 2.00 | 89% | 30° | Clouds in the way |
| 11 PM | Dark | 2.00 | 89% | 35° | Clouds in the way |
| 12 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 89% | 39° | Clouds in the way |
| 1 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 90% | 42° | Clouds in the way |
| 2 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 90% | 42° | Clouds in the way |
| 3 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 90% | 41° | Clouds in the way |
| 4 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 94% | 38° | Clouds in the way |
| 5 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 94% | 33° | Clouds in the way |
| 6 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 94% | 28° | Clouds in the way |
| 7 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 97% | 22° | Clouds in the way |
| 8 AM | Twilight | 2.00 | 97% | 16° | Not dark yet |
Forecast from NOAA SWPC (Kp, 3-hour blocks) and the National Weather Service (sky cover), checked when this page was built. The page updates itself when it can reach our data feed.
What Kp you need in Fairbanks
The farther north (in magnetic terms) you stand, the lower the Kp you need. From Fairbanks, an aurora usually shows low on the northern horizon once Kp reaches about 0; overhead displays need about two steps more. A phone camera in night mode often records it one step earlier than the eye. How we estimate this: our method.
How often the aurora reaches Fairbanks
Our own count from the official Kp archive: on how many nights each year the Kp index reached about 0 or more while it was dark at Fairbanks. Clouds are not counted, so the real number of nights with a visible aurora is lower. Over the last 10 years the average was 248.3 nights a year; in 2025 it was 247.
Data: Kp index since 1932, GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences (Matzka et al., 2021), CC BY 4.0. Darkness computed by us for each 3-hour interval (Sun 12° or more below the horizon).
The next 27 days
NOAA's 27-day outlook has 21 days with a largest Kp close to or above what Fairbanks needs: Oct 25 (Kp 3), Oct 26 (Kp 2), Oct 27 (Kp 2), Oct 28 (Kp 2), Oct 29 (Kp 2), Oct 30 (Kp 2), Oct 31 (Kp 5), Nov 1 (Kp 5), Nov 2 (Kp 3), Nov 3 (Kp 2), Nov 4 (Kp 2), Nov 5 (Kp 3), Nov 6 (Kp 3), Nov 7 (Kp 3), Nov 8 (Kp 2), Nov 9 (Kp 4), Nov 10 (Kp 3), Nov 11 (Kp 3), Nov 12 (Kp 3), Nov 13 (Kp 2), Nov 14 (Kp 2). The outlook is rough: it repeats the Sun's 27-day rotation and misses sudden storms.
| Day (UTC) | Largest Kp | At Fairbanks |
|---|---|---|
| Sun, Oct 25 | 3 | Good chance |
| Mon, Oct 26 | 2 | Good chance |
| Tue, Oct 27 | 2 | Good chance |
| Wed, Oct 28 | 2 | Good chance |
| Thu, Oct 29 | 2 | Good chance |
| Fri, Oct 30 | 2 | Good chance |
| Sat, Oct 31 | 5 | Good chance |
| Sun, Nov 1 | 5 | Good chance |
| Mon, Nov 2 | 3 | Good chance |
| Tue, Nov 3 | 2 | Good chance |
First 10 days shown. Full table: 27-day aurora forecast.
Where to watch in Fairbanks
Fairbanks is one of the best aurora cities in the world. It sits under the auroral oval, and dry, cold winter air brings many clear nights. From late August to April you only need a dark spot outside town and some patience; in high summer the sky never gets dark.
The aurora often spreads overhead here, so the whole sky matters. Hills north of town give extra height and fewer lights.
- Murphy Dome: high ridge about 20 miles northwest of town, popular with aurora watchers
- Cleary Summit: pass on the Steese Highway about 20 miles north of Fairbanks
- Chena River State Recreation Area: large state recreation area along Chena Hot Springs Road, about 30 miles east
For the darkest skies in the state, see northern lights in Alaska.
Nearby cities
Questions people ask
Can you see the northern lights in Fairbanks, AK?
Yes, on active nights. From Fairbanks it takes about Kp 0 to 1 (most dark, clear nights), which happened on about 248.3 nights a year over the last 10 years (before clouds).
What time is best?
Usually between 10 pm and 2 am local time, when the sky is fully dark and your location faces the night side of the auroral oval. Storms can bring it earlier or later.
Which way should I look?
North, toward a low, open horizon away from city lights. In strong storms the aurora can climb higher or appear overhead.
Is this an official forecast?
No. It is our estimate built from NOAA's Kp forecast, the National Weather Service sky cover forecast and the Sun and Moon positions. It is not a promise.
Sources: Kp forecast and 27-day outlook: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (public domain). Sky cover: National Weather Service (public domain). Kp archive: GFZ, CC BY 4.0. Coordinates: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer. Sun and Moon: Astronomy Engine. Unofficial estimates, not a guarantee.
Page checked: October 25, 2026.