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Rule Northern Lights

Höfn - Northern Lights - Iceland

Hofn, East, Iceland

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
Aurora Activity 100% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Kp IndexKp 1 (Quiet)
Sun Elevation47.2° (Daylight)
Cloud Cover74%

Upcoming Opportunities

When all conditions match, PhotoWeather marks an opportunity window.

Times shown in Atlantic/Reykjavik

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.

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.

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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
Atlantic/Reykjavik
Aurora Quality
≥ 50.0%
Solar Elevation
≤ -8.0°
Aurora Activity
≥ 50.0%
Total Cloud Coverage
≤ 30.0%
Visibility
≥ 8000.0m
Tue, Jul 7
13:000%48°0%100%23779m
14:000%47°0%100%24050m
15:000%44°8%100%24135m
16:000%40°14%100%24062m
17:000%34°18%100%24135m
18:000%27°23%100%24135m
19:000%21°27%100%24135m
20:000%15°31%100%24134m
21:000%8.9°36%100%24135m
22:000%4.1°37%100%24135m
23:000%0.6°40%100%24135m
Wed, Jul 8
24:000%-2.2°41%100%24134m
01:000%-3.1°39%100%24134m
02:000%-2.5°40%100%24135m
03:000%0.08°39%100%21650m
04:000%3.3°37%75%24135m
05:000%7.8°33%14%24134m
06:000%13°25%6.6%24135m
07:000%20°18%46%24134m
08:000%26°14%95%24135m
09:000%32°8%96%24134m
10:000%38°8%100%24134m
11:000%43°8%100%24134m
12:000%47°8%100%24134m
13:000%48°8%100%24134m
14:000%47°8%74%24135m
15:000%44°3%90%24135m
16:000%39°3%100%24135m
17:000%34°3%100%24135m
18:000%27°5%100%24134m
19:000%21°5%100%24134m
20:000%15°5%100%24134m
21:000%8.8°5%100%24135m
22:000%5%99%24134m
23:000%0.51°5%98%24134m
Thu, Jul 9
24:000%-2.3°21%76%24135m
01:000%-3.3°21%99%24135m
02:000%-2.6°21%68%24135m
03:000%-0.04°34%76%5863m
04:000%3.2°34%27%3878m
05:000%7.7°34%13%24134m
06:000%13°15%10%24135m
07:000%19°15%8.3%24135m
08:000%26°15%6.3%24134m
09:000%32°15%7.3%24135m
10:000%38°15%15%24134m
11:000%43°15%26%24135m
12:000%47°15%26%24135m
13:000%48°15%14%24134m
14:000%47°15%6%24135m
15:000%44°7.7%53%24135m
16:000%39°7.7%63%24134m
17:000%34°7.7%57%24135m
18:000%27°7.7%69%24135m
19:000%21°7.7%47%24134m
20:000%14°7.7%96%24135m
21:000%8.7°15%98%24135m
22:000%3.9°15%87%24135m
23:000%0.41°15%87%23797m
Fri, Jul 10
24:000%-2.4°34%72%22633m
01:000%-3.4°34%98%23530m
02:000%-2.8°34%41%23582m
03:000%-0.26°15%43%23998m
04:000%15%40%24135m
05:000%7.6°15%69%24134m
06:000%13°15%87%24135m
07:000%19°15%99%24134m
08:000%26°15%99%24134m
09:000%32°15%97%24135m
10:000%38°15%55%24134m
11:000%43°15%5.9%24134m
12:000%47°15%5%24134m
13:000%48°15%5%24135m
14:000%47°15%5%24134m
15:000%44°15%1.9%24134m
16:000%39°15%1.3%24135m
17:000%33°15%5%24135m
18:000%27°34%0.3%24135m
19:000%21°34%31%24135m
20:000%14°34%61%24135m
21:000%8.6°15%92%24135m
22:000%3.8°15%94%24135m
23:000%0.32°15%97%24135m
Sat, Jul 11
24:000%-2.5°43%100%24135m
01:000%-3.5°43%100%24120m
02:000%-2.9°43%100%24104m
03:000%-0.47°43%100%24089m
04:000%2.9°43%92%23456m
05:000%7.5°43%85%22823m
06:000%13°43%77%22190m
07:000%19°43%53%22190m
08:000%26°43%30%22190m
09:000%32°43%5.7%22190m
10:000%38°43%33%22823m
11:000%43°43%60%23455m
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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