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Rule Northern Lights

Aurora Forecast - Iceland

Iceland, Iceland

Aurora forecast for Iceland's volcanic landscapes. Track Northern Lights at Kirkjufell, Jökulsárlón, Þingvellir with glaciers and black sand beaches.

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.

Iceland offers aurora photography with landscapes found nowhere else on Earth - volcanic craters, glacier lagoons, black sand beaches, and waterfalls all under the northern lights.

What makes Iceland special:

  • Volcanic landscapes - Lava fields, geothermal areas, and dramatic geology create otherworldly compositions
  • Glacier lagoon - Jökulsárlón's floating icebergs reflect aurora in ways unique to Iceland
  • Iconic foregrounds - Kirkjufell, Reynisdrangar sea stacks, and Skógafoss are bucket-list shots
  • Ring Road access - Most spots accessible via paved roads, making aurora chasing practical

Aurora season runs September through March. Iceland's changeable weather means cloud gaps can open anywhere - our forecast helps you identify which locations have the best chance tonight.

Next potential opportunity
Akureyri
Akureyri, Northeast, Iceland
Starting in ~2 hours
Medium confidence

Location status

0 of 12 locations currently active

Kirkjufell

Inactive

Iceland's most photographed mountain with aurora

Grundarfjordur, West, Iceland

Right now: Aurora activity too low (36%, needs ≥ 50%)

Next opportunity in ~90h

4 opportunities in next 14 days

View forecast

Jökulsárlón

Inactive

Glacier lagoon with icebergs reflecting northern lights

Hofn, East, Iceland

Right now: Aurora activity too low (34%, needs ≥ 50%)

Next opportunity in ~107h

3 opportunities in next 14 days

View forecast

Vík

Inactive

Black sand beach and Reynisdrangar sea stacks

Vik, South, Iceland

Right now: Aurora activity too low (25%, needs ≥ 50%)

Next opportunity in ~91h

4 opportunities in next 14 days

View forecast

Þingvellir

Inactive

UNESCO site where tectonic plates meet

Laugarvatn, South, Iceland

Right now: Aurora activity too low (35%, needs ≥ 50%)

Next opportunity in ~89h

7 opportunities in next 14 days

View forecast

Skógafoss

Inactive

Iconic waterfall with aurora backdrop potential

Skógafoss, South, Iceland

Right now: Aurora activity too low (27%, needs ≥ 50%)

Next opportunity in ~91h

4 opportunities in next 14 days

View forecast

Mývatn

Inactive

Volcanic lake region in the north with geothermal features

Reykjahlíð, Northeast, Iceland

Right now: Aurora activity too low (36%, needs ≥ 50%)

Next opportunity in ~108h

5 opportunities in next 14 days

View forecast

Húsavík

Inactive

Whale watching capital with northern exposure

Norðurþing, Northeast, Iceland

Right now: Aurora activity too low (36%, needs ≥ 50%)

View forecast

Akureyri

Inactive

Northern capital with Eyjafjörður fjord views

Akureyri, Northeast, Iceland

Right now: Aurora activity too low (36%, needs ≥ 50%)

Next opportunity in ~2h

4 opportunities in next 14 days

View forecast

Snæfellsnes

Inactive

Peninsula with glacier, beaches and mountain backdrops

Stykkisholmur, West, Iceland

Right now: Aurora activity too low (36%, needs ≥ 50%)

Next opportunity in ~2h

5 opportunities in next 14 days

View forecast

Seyðisfjörður

Inactive

Colorful east fjord town with mountain reflections

Seyðisfjörður, East, Iceland

Right now: Aurora activity too low (34%, needs ≥ 50%)

Next opportunity in ~209h

2 opportunities in next 14 days

View forecast

Reykjavik

Inactive

Capital with Grótta lighthouse and easy dark sky access

Reykjavik, Capital Region, Iceland

Right now: Aurora activity too low (36%, needs ≥ 50%)

Next opportunity in ~90h

6 opportunities in next 14 days

View forecast

Höfn

Inactive

Gateway to Vatnajökull glacier and Diamond Beach

Hofn, East, Iceland

Right now: Aurora activity too low (34%, needs ≥ 50%)

Next opportunity in ~110h

2 opportunities in next 14 days

View forecast

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in Atlantic/Reykjavik
Next opportunity
Northern Lights
Akureyri
Today · 09:00–10:00 · 1h window
Medium confidence
67%
Northern Lights
Snæfellsnes
Today · 09:00–10:00
Medium
Northern Lights
Snæfellsnes
Tue, Jan 13 · 24:00–10:00
Medium
Northern Lights
Þingvellir
Tue, Jan 13 · 24:00–09:00
Medium
Northern Lights
Kirkjufell
Tue, Jan 13 · 01:00–10:00
Medium
Northern Lights
Reykjavik
Tue, Jan 13 · 01:00–09:00
Medium
+40 more windows in the next 14 days

What's blocking opportunities

72-hour view of conditions preventing matches across 12 locations

Top 4 blocking conditions across 12 of 12 locations
Some blocked
Most blocked
9 Fri
10 Sat
11 Sun
12 Mon
06
12
18
24
06
12
18
24
06
12
18
24
Aurora Activity (≥ 50.0%)
95% blocked
Total Cloud Coverage (≤ 30.0%)
70% blocked
Solar Elevation (≤ -8.0°)
33% blocked
Visibility (≥ 8000.0m)
9% blocked
How to read: Each row shows when a condition blocks opportunities. Stronger red means more locations are affected. These are the top 4 conditions preventing matches across the 72-hour forecast.

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