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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
Solar Elevation 100% failing
Total Cloud Coverage 96% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Aurora Quality
0%
Kp IndexKp 6 (Minor Storm)
Sun Elevation32.7° (Daylight)
Cloud Cover98%

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
Thu, Jun 4
18:000%33°0%82%24135m
19:000%26°100%50%24135m
20:000%20°100%46%24134m
21:000%13°100%68%24135m
22:000%7.7°100%29%24135m
23:000%3.1°100%25%24134m
Fri, Jun 5
24:000%-0.29°100%31%24135m
01:000%-2.8°100%69%24134m
02:000%-3.5°100%81%24135m
03:000%-2.5°100%100%24135m
04:000%0.36°72%99%24134m
05:000%3.9°100%85%24134m
06:000%8.7°100%46%24135m
07:000%14°100%39%24135m
08:000%21°100%20%21029m
09:000%27°100%47%21659m
10:000%34°62%91%21291m
11:000%40°62%77%20212m
12:000%45°62%83%24135m
13:000%48°33%83%24135m
14:000%49°33%79%24134m
15:000%47°35%69%24134m
16:000%44°54%70%24134m
17:000%39°100%97%24135m
18:000%33°100%98%24134m
19:000%26°79%83%24134m
20:000%20°74%90%24135m
21:000%13°74%88%24135m
22:000%7.8°42%84%24134m
23:000%3.2°42%86%24135m
Sat, Jun 6
24:000%-0.1°42%76%24134m
01:000%-2.7°20%71%24134m
02:000%-3.4°20%68%24134m
03:000%-2.4°20%65%24134m
04:000%0.43°11%59%24134m
05:000%4°11%67%24134m
06:000%8.8°11%74%24135m
07:000%15°15%80%24135m
08:000%21°15%68%24134m
09:000%27°15%62%24134m
10:000%34°26%25%24134m
11:000%40°26%73%18389m
12:000%45°26%96%13764m
13:000%48°33%89%20341m
14:000%49°33%68%24135m
15:000%47°33%74%20623m
16:000%44°20%95%7864m
17:000%39°20%100%8969m
18:000%33°20%95%11302m
19:000%26°20%99%12955m
20:000%20°20%93%18200m
21:000%14°20%97%22182m
22:000%7.9°7.4%99%23137m
23:000%3.3°7.4%99%23023m
Sun, Jun 7
24:000%0.05°7.4%99%22204m
01:000%-2.6°15%100%13908m
02:000%-3.3°15%100%10353m
03:000%-2.3°15%100%12512m
04:000%0.51°15%100%14853m
05:000%4°15%100%21027m
06:000%8.9°15%100%21099m
07:000%15°15%98%15187m
08:000%21°15%81%17286m
09:000%28°15%94%16401m
10:000%34°7.4%75%16716m
11:000%40°7.4%90%12336m
12:000%45°7.4%95%20438m
13:000%48°15%95%24134m
14:000%49°15%87%24135m
15:000%48°15%22%24134m
16:000%44°7.4%51%22801m
17:000%39°7.4%43%24134m
18:000%33°7.4%14%24134m
19:000%26°7.4%49%24135m
20:000%20°7.4%61%23158m
21:000%14°7.4%83%24134m
22:000%8°7.4%54%24134m
23:000%3.4°7.4%100%24134m
Mon, Jun 8
24:000%0.13°7.4%99%24135m
01:000%-2.5°7.4%96%24135m
02:000%-3.2°7.4%99%24134m
03:000%-2.2°7.4%99%24135m
04:000%0.57°7.4%99%24134m
05:000%4.1°7.4%97%24134m
06:000%8.9°7.4%94%24135m
07:000%15°7.4%92%24135m
08:000%21°7.4%95%18016m
09:000%28°7.4%97%11897m
10:000%34°7.4%100%5778m
11:000%40°7.4%100%8912m
12:000%45°7.4%100%12047m
13:000%48°7.4%100%15182m
14:000%49°7.4%100%14062m
15:000%48°7.4%100%12942m
16:000%44°7.4%100%11822m
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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