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Rule Northern Lights

Denali - Northern Lights - Alaska

Healy, 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
Aurora Activity 88% failing
Total Cloud Coverage 64% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Aurora Quality
0%
Kp IndexKp 2 (Quiet)
Sun Elevation13.0° (Daylight)
Cloud Cover21%

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
Tue, Mar 3
16:000%13°0%84%12016m
17:000%7.6°0%82%3984m
18:000%1.8°33%91%2417m
19:000%-4.9°33%96%1968m
20:000%-12°33%100%2199m
21:000%-18°23%100%2997m
22:000%-24°24%100%3808m
23:000%-28°37%99%4809m
Wed, Mar 4
24:000%-31°37%85%6284m
01:000%-32°33%66%10505m
02:0042%-32°28%27%23469m
03:0046%-29°21%5%24134m
04:0044%-25°18%5%24134m
05:0042%-19°14%4.3%24134m
06:000%-13°8%4.3%24135m
07:000%-6.4°0%4.3%24135m
08:000%0.57°0%4.3%24135m
09:000%6.4°0%4.3%24135m
10:000%12°0%3.6%24135m
11:000%16°0%3.2%24134m
12:000%19°0%3.8%24134m
13:000%20°0%3.8%24135m
14:000%19°0%4.5%24135m
15:000%17°0%7%24134m
16:000%13°0%21%24135m
17:000%7.9°0%22%21379m
18:000%2.1°11%29%19883m
19:000%-4.6°11%27%20158m
20:0038%-11°11%4.3%24135m
21:000%-18°0%3.8%24134m
22:000%-23°0%3.1%24135m
23:000%-28°0%3.1%24135m
Thu, Mar 5
24:0036%-31°2.8%3.1%24134m
01:0036%-32°2.8%3.1%24134m
02:0036%-31°2.8%3.1%24134m
03:000%-29°0%3.1%24135m
04:000%-24°0%3.1%24134m
05:000%-19°0%3.1%24134m
06:0040%-13°11%3.1%24134m
07:0025%-6°11%3.1%24135m
08:008.1%0.9°11%3.1%24135m
09:000%6.8°11%3.4%24135m
10:000%12°11%5%24134m
11:000%16°11%1.1%24134m
12:000%19°26%1%24134m
13:000%20°26%10%24134m
14:000%20°26%10%24135m
15:000%17°51%9.6%24134m
16:000%13°51%42%24135m
17:000%8.3°51%63%24135m
18:000%2.4°51%67%24134m
19:000%-4.2°51%61%24134m
20:000%-11°51%65%24134m
21:0041%-17°26%30%24135m
22:000%-23°26%59%24134m
23:000%-27°26%100%24135m
Fri, Mar 6
24:000%-30°26%100%24134m
01:000%-32°26%100%24134m
02:000%-31°26%100%24135m
03:000%-28°20%100%18328m
04:000%-24°20%100%17786m
05:000%-18°20%100%16851m
06:000%-12°15%100%2734m
07:000%-5.6°15%100%2764m
08:000%1.2°15%100%1472m
09:000%7.1°20%100%1704m
10:000%13°20%100%2217m
11:000%17°20%100%24134m
12:000%20°51%100%24134m
13:000%21°51%100%4805m
14:000%20°51%93%5999m
15:000%18°7.4%99%4547m
16:000%14°7.4%100%2110m
17:000%8.6°7.4%100%8241m
18:000%2.7°7.4%100%7136m
19:000%-3.9°7.4%100%5965m
20:000%-11°7.4%72%5075m
21:000%-17°7.4%100%2671m
22:000%-22°7.4%99%1908m
23:000%-27°7.4%97%1145m
Sat, Mar 7
24:000%-30°7.4%96%383m
01:000%-31°7.4%97%371m
02:000%-31°7.4%99%359m
03:000%-28°7.4%100%347m
04:000%-24°7.4%100%367m
05:000%-18°7.4%100%387m
06:000%-12°7.4%100%407m
07:000%-5.3°7.4%100%433m
08:000%1.6°7.4%100%460m
09:000%7.5°7.4%100%487m
10:000%13°7.4%100%414m
11:000%17°7.4%100%340m
12:000%20°7.4%100%267m
13:000%21°7.4%99%309m
14:000%20°7.4%98%352m
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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