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Rule Northern Lights

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon - Northern Lights - Iceland

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
Total Cloud Coverage 100% failing

Currently

Real-time conditions
Aurora Quality
0%
Kp IndexKp 3 (Unsettled)
Sun Elevation-6.5° (Nautical twilight)
Cloud Cover95%

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, May 12
20:000%10°20%49%24134m
21:000%4.6°37%20%24135m
22:000%0.04°39%36%24134m
23:000%-4.2°39%9.3%24135m
Wed, May 13
24:000%-6.7°30%2.3%24135m
01:000%-7.5°28%5%24134m
02:000%-6.7°27%4.6%24134m
03:000%-4.3°26%4.5%24135m
04:000%-0.15°26%4.3%24134m
05:000%4.4°26%0.5%24135m
06:000%10°8%0.5%24134m
07:000%16°0%29%24134m
08:000%23°0%34%24134m
09:000%29°0%59%24134m
10:000%35°0%56%24135m
11:000%40°0%57%9128m
12:000%43°20%85%8570m
13:000%44°20%99%19395m
14:000%43°20%100%11414m
15:000%40°14%96%5232m
16:000%35°16%100%9084m
17:000%30°14%100%10634m
18:000%23°35%100%13720m
19:000%17°34%99%2037m
20:000%11°34%98%1620m
21:000%4.8°26%86%1572m
22:000%0.23°26%87%1570m
23:000%-4°26%98%1567m
Thu, May 14
24:000%-6.4°26%100%1575m
01:000%-7.3°26%98%1571m
02:000%-6.5°26%95%1578m
03:000%-4.1°20%96%1614m
04:000%0.13°20%99%1360m
05:000%4.7°20%100%1629m
06:000%10°11%98%8603m
07:000%17°11%100%904m
08:000%23°11%100%1154m
09:000%30°7.6%100%1057m
10:000%35°7.6%100%1221m
11:000%40°7.6%100%1569m
12:000%43°4.9%100%1570m
13:000%45°4.9%100%1586m
14:000%44°4.9%98%1519m
15:000%40°7.6%99%1457m
16:000%36°7.6%93%1992m
17:000%30°7.6%92%8326m
18:000%24°15%85%8566m
19:000%17°15%72%9008m
20:000%11°15%79%9637m
21:000%5°34%67%11926m
22:000%0.43°34%50%24134m
23:000%-3.8°34%52%24135m
Fri, May 15
24:000%-6.2°42%50%24135m
01:000%-7°42%78%24135m
02:000%-6.3°42%84%24135m
03:000%-3.9°100%41%24135m
04:000%0.32°100%53%24134m
05:000%4.9°100%73%24135m
06:000%11°42%52%24134m
07:000%17°42%81%24135m
08:000%23°42%71%24134m
09:000%30°34%72%24135m
10:000%36°34%83%24134m
11:000%40°34%87%24135m
12:000%44°34%70%12644m
13:000%45°34%67%11813m
14:000%44°34%41%11606m
15:000%41°34%49%11648m
16:000%36°34%49%11734m
17:000%30°34%60%11569m
18:000%24°42%73%8697m
19:000%17°42%93%8660m
20:000%11°42%93%8643m
21:000%5.2°34%97%8692m
22:000%0.62°34%100%8512m
23:000%-3.5°34%100%1828m
Sat, May 16
24:000%-6°100%100%923m
01:000%-6.8°100%100%5270m
02:000%-6°100%100%9616m
03:000%-3.6°100%100%13963m
04:000%0.5°100%100%13950m
05:000%5.1°100%100%13937m
06:000%11°100%100%13923m
07:000%17°100%100%13944m
08:000%24°100%100%13965m
09:000%30°100%100%13986m
10:000%36°100%100%13909m
11:000%41°100%100%13831m
12:000%44°100%100%13754m
13:000%45°100%97%17059m
14:000%44°100%93%20365m
15:000%41°100%90%23671m
16:000%36°100%92%22724m
17:000%30°100%94%21777m
18:000%24°100%96%20830m
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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