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Rule Northern Lights

Coldfoot - Northern Lights - Alaska

Coldfoot, Alaska, United States

Northern Lights photography conditions - combines aurora activity levels with clear skies and proper darkness for optimal viewing.

Currently

Real-time conditions
Aurora Quality
0%
Kp IndexKp 2 (Quiet)
Sun Elevation10.9° (Daylight)
Cloud Cover0%

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in America/Anchorage
aurora weather icon
Next opportunity
Excellent Chance of Aurora
Coldfoot
Tomorrow · 20:00–21:00 · 1h window
Medium confidence
61%
🌌Aurora Quality89.5%
Kp Index: Kp 4 (Unsettled)
Sun Elevation: -9.8° (Nautical twilight)
Cloud Cover: 4%
aurora weather icon
Excellent Chance of Aurora
Coldfoot
Mon, Mar 9 · 21:00–07:00
🌌Aurora Quality:70.1-91.4%
Low
aurora weather icon
Excellent Chance of Aurora at Dawn
Coldfoot
Tue, Mar 10 · 07:00–08:00
🌌Aurora Quality:87.3%
Medium

What this forecast looks for

Plain-language explanation from the rule

This forecast answers the question every aurora photographer asks: "Can I actually see the aurora tonight?" Unlike simple Kp forecasts, we combine NOAA's OVATION aurora model with real-time cloud cover, visibility, and darkness data to predict true viewing conditions.

Alaska's interior sits directly under the auroral oval, making it one of the world's most reliable aurora viewing destinations. Fairbanks, in particular, experiences aurora activity on roughly 240 nights per year—more than almost anywhere else accessible by road.

What makes Alaska special for aurora photography:

  • Auroral oval position - Fairbanks sits at the ideal 65°N latitude, directly under the oval's typical position
  • Extreme darkness - Winter nights can last 18+ hours, maximizing viewing opportunities
  • Dramatic foregrounds - Snow-covered mountains, frozen rivers, and boreal forests create stunning compositions
  • Research heritage - The University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute provides world-class aurora forecasting

Best conditions typically occur September through March, with peak activity during the equinox months. The interior's continental climate means clearer skies than coastal areas, though temperatures can plunge well below -30°C. Dress accordingly and keep camera batteries warm.

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72-hour requirements breakdown

What passed or failed, hour by hour
2matching hours in the next 95 hoursJump to next match
AND logic: all conditions required
Meets requirement
Misses requirement
Time
America/Anchorage
Aurora Quality
≥ 50.0%
Solar Elevation
≤ -8.0°
Aurora Activity
≥ 50.0%
Total Cloud Coverage
≤ 30.0%
Visibility
≥ 8000.0m
Tue, Mar 3
16:000%11°100%0%24134m
17:000%6.2°100%0%24134m
18:000%1.3°80%0%24135m
19:000%-4.7°81%0%24134m
20:0082%-10°82%0%24134m
21:0048%-16°27%0.1%24134m
22:0049%-21°28%0.1%24135m
23:0055%-25°39%0%24135m
Wed, Mar 4
24:0054%-28°38%0%24134m
01:0052%-29°35%0%24135m
02:0050%-29°30%0%24134m
03:0048%-26°25%0%24134m
04:0046%-23°21%0%24134m
05:0044%-18°18%0%24134m
06:0042%-13°14%0%24135m
07:0028%-6.9°11%0%24135m
08:000%-0.93°8%0.8%24135m
09:000%4.4°8%0.8%24135m
10:000%9.1°0%0.8%24135m
11:000%13°0%0.8%24134m
12:000%15°0%3.9%24134m
13:000%17°0%0.8%24135m
14:000%16°0%0%24135m
15:000%14°14%0%24134m
16:000%11°14%0%24135m
17:000%6.5°14%0%24134m
18:000%1.6°14%0.1%24134m
19:000%-4.3°14%0.1%24134m
20:0037%-10°14%0.1%24135m
21:0036%-16°2.1%0.1%24134m
22:0036%-21°2.1%1.4%24135m
23:0036%-25°2.1%0.1%24135m
Thu, Mar 5
24:0037%-27°4%0%24134m
01:0037%-29°4%3.6%24134m
02:0037%-28°4%3.6%24134m
03:0036%-26°2.1%3.6%24135m
04:0036%-22°2.1%5.9%24134m
05:0036%-18°2.1%4.9%24134m
06:0040%-12°14%13%24134m
07:0027%-6.5°14%11%24135m
08:0013%-0.43°14%17%24135m
09:000.1%4.8°14%7.8%24135m
10:000%9.5°14%11%24134m
11:000%13°14%8.1%24134m
12:000%16°33%6%24134m
13:000%17°33%29%24134m
14:000%17°33%23%24135m
15:0029%15°100%5%24134m
16:0037%11°100%5%24135m
17:0048%6.9°100%4.1%24135m
18:0060%1.9°100%5%24134m
19:0075%-4°100%5%24134m
20:0090%-9.8°100%4.5%24134m
21:0052%-15°33%4.5%24135m
22:0052%-20°33%5.1%24134m
23:0052%-24°33%5.7%24135m
Fri, Mar 6
24:0052%-27°33%5.7%24134m
01:0052%-28°33%5.8%24134m
02:0052%-28°33%6%24135m
03:0048%-26°26%6.1%24134m
04:0048%-22°26%5.9%24134m
05:0048%-17°26%5.9%24135m
06:0045%-12°20%5.8%24134m
07:0030%-6.2°20%6%24134m
08:000%0.11°20%98%24134m
09:004.7%5.2°26%13%24135m
10:000%9.9°26%92%24135m
11:000%14°26%99%24134m
12:000%16°100%98%24134m
13:000%17°100%68%24134m
14:000%17°100%100%24135m
15:000%15°9.9%100%24135m
16:000%12°9.9%100%24135m
17:000%7.2°9.9%100%24135m
18:000%2.2°9.9%100%24134m
19:000%-3.7°9.9%100%24135m
20:000%-9.5°9.9%100%24134m
21:000%-15°9.9%100%24135m
22:000%-20°9.9%100%24135m
23:000%-24°9.9%100%24135m
Sat, Mar 7
24:000%-27°9.9%100%24135m
01:000%-28°9.9%100%22945m
02:000%-27°9.9%100%21755m
03:000%-25°9.9%100%20565m
04:000%-22°9.9%100%14493m
05:000%-17°9.9%100%8422m
06:000%-12°9.9%100%2350m
07:000%-5.8°9.9%100%6258m
08:000%0.43°9.9%100%10166m
09:000%5.5°9.9%100%14074m
10:000%10°9.9%100%15699m
11:000%14°9.9%100%17323m
12:000%17°9.9%100%18948m
13:000%18°9.9%100%20677m
14:000%17°9.9%100%22406m
How to read: colored cells show whether each predicate requirement is met; highlighted rows mean the full rule matched (an opportunity).

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