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Rule Northern Lights

Valdez - Northern Lights - Alaska

Valdez, 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 92% failing
Total Cloud Coverage 79% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Aurora Quality
0%
Kp IndexKp 2 (Quiet)
Sun Elevation16.8° (Daylight)
Cloud Cover1%

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%16°15%0.9%24134m
18:000%10°15%0.9%24135m
19:000%3.9°11%7.1%23566m
20:000%-3.4°11%10%23568m
21:0037%-11°11%0.5%24134m
22:0044%-17°18%0.9%24135m
23:0047%-23°24%0.5%24134m
Thu, Mar 12
24:0047%-28°24%0.5%24134m
01:0047%-31°24%0.5%24134m
02:0045%-32°20%0.5%24134m
03:0044%-31°18%0.5%24134m
04:0044%-27°18%0.5%24135m
05:0048%-22°27%0.5%24135m
06:0050%-16°30%0.5%24134m
07:0042%-9.3°28%0.5%24135m
08:0018%-2°16%0.5%24134m
09:000%5.2°8%0.5%24135m
10:000%12°0%0.5%24134m
11:000%18°0%0.5%24134m
12:000%22°0%0.5%24135m
13:000%25°0%0%24135m
14:000%26°0%0%24134m
15:000%25°8%0%24135m
16:000%22°8%0%24135m
17:000%17°8%0.9%24135m
18:000%11°8%0.9%24135m
19:000%4.2°0%8.2%24056m
20:000%-3.1°0%8.7%24111m
21:000%-10°0%0.9%24135m
22:000%-17°0%0%24134m
23:000%-23°0%0.8%24135m
Fri, Mar 13
24:000%-28°0%3.5%24134m
01:0041%-31°11%5%24134m
02:0041%-32°11%5%24135m
03:0041%-30°11%5%24135m
04:0045%-27°20%5%24135m
05:0045%-22°20%5%24134m
06:0038%-16°20%28%24135m
07:000%-9°62%56%24134m
08:000%-1.6°62%57%24134m
09:000%5.5°62%59%24135m
10:000%12°41%80%24135m
11:000%18°41%78%24135m
12:000%23°41%58%24135m
13:000%25°41%57%24134m
14:000%26°41%65%24134m
15:000%25°41%84%24134m
16:000%22°51%78%24135m
17:000%17°51%70%24135m
18:000%11°51%56%24135m
19:000%4.5°33%78%24135m
20:000%-2.8°33%95%24134m
21:000%-10°33%100%24134m
22:000%-17°33%96%24135m
23:000%-23°33%93%24134m
Sat, Mar 14
24:000%-27°33%81%24135m
01:000%-30°15%94%24135m
02:000%-31°15%99%24134m
03:000%-30°15%97%24135m
04:000%-27°11%96%24134m
05:000%-22°11%99%24135m
06:000%-15°11%98%24135m
07:000%-8.6°0%97%24135m
08:000%-1.2°0%94%24134m
09:000%5.9°0%91%24135m
10:000%13°0%83%24134m
11:000%18°0%83%24134m
12:000%23°0%91%19274m
13:000%26°26%95%18100m
14:000%27°26%90%19933m
15:000%25°26%96%24135m
16:000%22°33%100%16551m
17:000%17°33%100%4525m
18:000%11°33%100%1454m
19:000%4.8°33%100%218m
20:000%-2.4°33%100%321m
21:000%-9.7°33%100%937m
22:000%-16°33%100%13452m
23:000%-22°33%100%9198m
Sun, Mar 15
24:000%-27°33%100%4944m
01:000%-30°33%100%690m
02:000%-31°33%100%1056m
03:000%-30°33%100%1422m
04:000%-26°33%100%1788m
05:000%-21°33%100%1490m
06:000%-15°33%100%1192m
07:000%-8.2°33%100%895m
08:000%-0.69°33%97%8642m
09:000%6.3°33%94%16388m
10:000%13°33%91%24135m
11:000%19°33%94%24135m
12:000%23°33%97%24135m
13:000%26°33%100%24135m
14:000%27°33%99%24135m
15:000%26°33%98%24135m
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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