Denali - Northern Lights - Alaska
Northern Lights photography conditions - combines aurora activity levels with clear skies and proper darkness for optimal viewing.
No Northern Lights opportunities in the next 14 days
Tip: Scroll down to the 72-hour table to see exactly which condition fails hour by hour.
Currently
Real-time conditionsUpcoming Opportunities
When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.
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 ruleThis 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 hourTime America/Anchorage | Aurora Quality ≥ 50.0% | Solar Elevation ≤ -8.0° | Aurora Activity ≥ 50.0% | Total Cloud Coverage ≤ 30.0% | Visibility ≥ 8000.0m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Feb 17 | |||||
| 10:00 | 0% | 6.4° | 0% | 100% | 24134m |
| 11:00 | 0% | 11° | 0% | 99% | 24134m |
| 12:00 | 0% | 13° | 0% | 95% | 24134m |
| 13:00 | 0% | 14° | 0% | 100% | 24134m |
| 14:00 | 0% | 14° | 0% | 99% | 24134m |
| 15:00 | 0% | 12° | 0% | 100% | 24135m |
| 16:00 | 0% | 7.9° | 33% | 100% | 24134m |
| 17:00 | 0% | 3.1° | 33% | 100% | 24135m |
| 18:00 | 0% | -2.9° | 42% | 100% | 24135m |
| 19:00 | 0% | -9.3° | 42% | 100% | 24135m |
| 20:00 | 0% | -16° | 45% | 100% | 24135m |
| 21:00 | 0% | -22° | 29% | 100% | 21870m |
| 22:00 | 0% | -28° | 28% | 100% | 24134m |
| 23:00 | 0% | -33° | 30% | 100% | 24134m |
| Wed, Feb 18 | |||||
| 24:00 | 0% | -36° | 33% | 100% | 17302m |
| 01:00 | 0% | -38° | 36% | 100% | 6240m |
| 02:00 | 0% | -37° | 33% | 100% | 4242m |
| 03:00 | 0% | -34° | 30% | 100% | 3530m |
| 04:00 | 0% | -30° | 30% | 100% | 3835m |
| 05:00 | 0% | -24° | 29% | 100% | 1957m |
| 06:00 | 0% | -18° | 35% | 100% | 1060m |
| 07:00 | 0% | -11° | 35% | 100% | 370m |
| 08:00 | 0% | -4.8° | 33% | 100% | 234m |
| 09:00 | 0% | 1.6° | 33% | 100% | 358m |
| 10:00 | 0% | 6.7° | 33% | 100% | 296m |
| 11:00 | 0% | 11° | 33% | 100% | 258m |
| 12:00 | 0% | 14° | 33% | 100% | 214m |
| 13:00 | 0% | 15° | 33% | 100% | 162m |
| 14:00 | 0% | 14° | 33% | 100% | 126m |
| 15:00 | 0% | 12° | 15% | 100% | 124m |
| 16:00 | 0% | 8.3° | 15% | 100% | 156m |
| 17:00 | 0% | 3.4° | 15% | 100% | 158m |
| 18:00 | 0% | -2.5° | 20% | 100% | 120m |
| 19:00 | 0% | -9° | 20% | 100% | 112m |
| 20:00 | 0% | -16° | 20% | 98% | 402m |
| 21:00 | 0% | -22° | 11% | 98% | 12381m |
| 22:00 | 0% | -28° | 11% | 57% | 24134m |
| 23:00 | 0% | -33° | 11% | 64% | 24135m |
| Thu, Feb 19 | |||||
| 24:00 | 0% | -36° | 7.4% | 72% | 24134m |
| 01:00 | 0% | -37° | 7.4% | 90% | 24135m |
| 02:00 | 0% | -37° | 7.4% | 84% | 24135m |
| 03:00 | 0% | -34° | 7.4% | 100% | 22328m |
| 04:00 | 0% | -29° | 7.4% | 99% | 1161m |
| 05:00 | 0% | -24° | 7.4% | 100% | 251m |
| 06:00 | 0% | -18° | 7.4% | 100% | 183m |
| 07:00 | 0% | -11° | 7.4% | 100% | 339m |
| 08:00 | 0% | -4.4° | 7.4% | 100% | 680m |
| 09:00 | 0% | 1.9° | 20% | 100% | 937m |
| 10:00 | 0% | 7° | 20% | 100% | 3004m |
| 11:00 | 0% | 11° | 20% | 100% | 3908m |
| 12:00 | 0% | 14° | 33% | 80% | 4700m |
| 13:00 | 0% | 15° | 33% | 100% | 1340m |
| 14:00 | 0% | 15° | 33% | 100% | 392m |
| 15:00 | 0% | 12° | 20% | 100% | 268m |
| 16:00 | 0% | 8.6° | 20% | 100% | 195m |
| 17:00 | 0% | 3.7° | 20% | 100% | 227m |
| 18:00 | 0% | -2.2° | 20% | 100% | 201m |
| 19:00 | 0% | -8.7° | 20% | 100% | 202m |
| 20:00 | 0% | -15° | 20% | 100% | 190m |
| 21:00 | 0% | -22° | 11% | 100% | 251m |
| 22:00 | 0% | -28° | 11% | 100% | 211m |
| 23:00 | 0% | -32° | 11% | 100% | 173m |
| Fri, Feb 20 | |||||
| 24:00 | 0% | -36° | 2.8% | 100% | 158m |
| 01:00 | 0% | -37° | 2.8% | 100% | 164m |
| 02:00 | 0% | -36° | 2.8% | 100% | 175m |
| 03:00 | 0% | -33° | 2.8% | 100% | 179m |
| 04:00 | 0% | -29° | 2.8% | 100% | 176m |
| 05:00 | 0% | -24° | 2.8% | 100% | 170m |
| 06:00 | 0% | -17° | 4.8% | 100% | 225m |
| 07:00 | 0% | -11° | 4.8% | 100% | 303m |
| 08:00 | 0% | -4.1° | 4.8% | 100% | 517m |
| 09:00 | 0% | 2.2° | 7.4% | 98% | 1073m |
| 10:00 | 0% | 7.4° | 7.4% | 97% | 2303m |
| 11:00 | 0% | 12° | 7.4% | 99% | 3109m |
| 12:00 | 0% | 14° | 20% | 85% | 7340m |
| 13:00 | 0% | 16° | 20% | 77% | 10929m |
| 14:00 | 0% | 15° | 20% | 83% | 12293m |
| 15:00 | 0% | 13° | 7.4% | 77% | 13442m |
| 16:00 | 0% | 8.9° | 7.4% | 53% | 17006m |
| 17:00 | 0% | 4° | 7.4% | 29% | 20571m |
| 18:00 | 13% | -1.9° | 7.4% | 5% | 24135m |
| 19:00 | 30% | -8.4° | 7.4% | 5% | 24135m |
| 20:00 | 39% | -15° | 7.4% | 5% | 24135m |
| 21:00 | 39% | -21° | 7.4% | 5% | 24135m |
| 22:00 | 39% | -27° | 7.4% | 5% | 24135m |
| 23:00 | 39% | -32° | 7.4% | 5% | 24135m |
| Sat, Feb 21 | |||||
| 24:00 | 39% | -35° | 7.4% | 5% | 24135m |
| 01:00 | 39% | -37° | 7.4% | 5% | 24135m |
| 02:00 | 39% | -36° | 7.4% | 4.9% | 24135m |
| 03:00 | 39% | -33° | 7.4% | 4.9% | 24135m |
| 04:00 | 39% | -29° | 7.4% | 3.3% | 24135m |
| 05:00 | 39% | -23° | 7.4% | 1.6% | 24135m |
| 06:00 | 39% | -17° | 7.4% | 0% | 24135m |
| 07:00 | 35% | -10° | 7.4% | 1.6% | 24135m |
| 08:00 | 18% | -3.7° | 7.4% | 3.3% | 24135m |
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