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Rule Northern Lights

Delta Junction - Northern Lights - Alaska

Delta Junction, Alaska, United States

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

No opportunities right now
Here’s what usually blocks matches

No Northern Lights opportunities in the next 14 days

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Rule requirements (key thresholds)
Aurora Quality · ≥ 50.0% Solar Elevation · ≤ -8.0° Aurora Activity · ≥ 50.0% Total Cloud Coverage · ≤ 30.0%

Tip: Scroll down to the 72-hour table to see exactly which condition fails hour by hour.

Most common blockers (next 72 hours)
Aurora Quality 100% failing
Total Cloud Coverage 97% failing
Aurora Activity 83% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Kp IndexKp 2 (Quiet)
Sun Elevation14.7° (Daylight)
Cloud Cover8%

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in America/Anchorage

No opportunities in the next 10 days

See the blocker timeline below to understand which conditions are preventing matches.

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
0matching hours in the next 95 hours
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
Wed, Mar 11
17:000%14°20%26%24134m
18:000%8.9°22%6.5%24135m
19:000%2.9°18%5%24135m
20:000%-3.7°16%5%24134m
21:0039%-10°16%5%24135m
22:0045%-16°25%11%23343m
23:0043%-22°32%26%20940m
Thu, Mar 12
24:0032%-26°32%41%13447m
01:0021%-28°32%47%12213m
02:0020%-29°28%47%12193m
03:0020%-28°25%47%13208m
04:0041%-25°25%22%23248m
05:0043%-20°31%26%24135m
06:0036%-15°34%31%17338m
07:0030%-8.5°33%33%15678m
08:0013%-1.8°23%35%14562m
09:000%4.6°11%38%14419m
10:000%11°0%47%14632m
11:000%16°0%45%16536m
12:000%20°0%25%22639m
13:000%22°0%5%24135m
14:000%23°8%5%24134m
15:000%22°11%5%24135m
16:000%19°11%5%24135m
17:000%15°11%7.8%24135m
18:000%9.3°11%47%24135m
19:000%3.3°2.9%94%24134m
20:000%-3.4°2.9%100%24135m
21:000%-9.9°2.9%100%24135m
22:000%-16°2.9%100%24134m
23:000%-21°2.9%98%24135m
Fri, Mar 13
24:000%-26°2.9%72%24134m
01:000%-28°15%62%24134m
02:000%-29°15%80%24135m
03:000%-28°15%99%24135m
04:000%-25°26%100%24135m
05:000%-20°26%100%24134m
06:000%-14°26%99%24135m
07:000%-8.1°100%99%24134m
08:000%-1.4°100%99%23700m
09:000%100%99%24135m
10:000%11°52%97%24135m
11:000%16°52%97%24135m
12:000%20°52%92%24135m
13:000%23°52%69%24134m
14:000%23°52%56%24134m
15:000%22°52%96%24134m
16:000%19°63%90%24135m
17:000%15°63%92%24135m
18:000%9.6°63%99%24063m
19:000%3.6°42%100%23523m
20:000%-3°42%100%23457m
21:000%-9.6°42%100%23730m
22:000%-16°42%100%24135m
23:000%-21°42%97%24134m
Sat, Mar 14
24:000%-25°42%100%24135m
01:000%-28°20%95%24135m
02:000%-28°20%100%15310m
03:000%-27°20%100%12673m
04:000%-24°15%100%13956m
05:000%-20°15%100%16116m
06:000%-14°15%100%11826m
07:000%-7.8°11%100%14467m
08:000%-0.98°11%100%14834m
09:000%5.4°11%100%24135m
10:000%11°11%100%24134m
11:000%17°11%100%18857m
12:000%21°11%100%20860m
13:000%23°34%100%23466m
14:000%24°34%100%23828m
15:000%23°34%100%24033m
16:000%20°42%100%24030m
17:000%15°42%100%24043m
18:000%9.9°42%100%22135m
19:000%3.9°42%100%20402m
20:000%-2.7°42%100%20272m
21:000%-9.3°42%100%6092m
22:000%-15°42%100%1115m
23:000%-21°42%100%938m
Sun, Mar 15
24:000%-25°42%100%762m
01:000%-27°42%100%585m
02:000%-28°42%100%546m
03:000%-27°42%100%508m
04:000%-24°42%100%469m
05:000%-19°42%100%593m
06:000%-14°42%100%718m
07:000%-7.4°42%100%842m
08:000%-0.47°42%100%746m
09:000%5.8°42%100%650m
10:000%12°42%100%553m
11:000%17°42%100%642m
12:000%21°42%100%730m
13:000%23°42%100%818m
14:000%24°42%100%632m
15:000%23°42%100%445m
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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