Tonight
Jun 16 - Jun 17
- 52 °F
34 percent cloud cover - 51 °F
40 percent cloud cover
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Northern Lights Forecast for Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
61°13′5.2″N ⋅ 149°54′1.1″W
Aurora data last updated at
Current local time:
Aurora activity is expected to be low between 4 AM and 11 AM in Anchorage tonight. Cloud cover around that time looks mostly cloudy at 50% to 70%. Low activity and cloud cover together may make the aurora difficult to spot.
Aurora Forecast for Anchorage, AK
Today at 4:00 AM
Low Activity
Cloud Cover:57%
Aurora activity
High clouds
Middle clouds
Low clouds
Fog
Aurora activity
High clouds
Middle clouds
Low clouds
Fog
Hourly aurora forecast for Anchorage
| Local time | Aurora activity |
|---|---|
| Low Activity | |
| Low Activity | |
| Low Activity | |
| No activity | |
| No activity | |
| Low Activity | |
| Low Activity | |
| Low Activity | |
| Low Activity | |
| No activity | |
| No activity | |
| No activity | |
| No activity | |
| Low Activity | |
| Low Activity | |
| Low Activity |
3-Night Weather Forecast for Anchorage, AK
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Tomorrow night
Jun 17 - Jun 18
- 56 °F
40 percent cloud cover - 53 °F59 percent cloud cover
- 51 °F31 percent cloud cover
Thursday night
Jun 18 - Jun 19
- 61 °F59 percent cloud cover
- 58 °F73 percent cloud cover
- 55 °F38 percent cloud cover
Sun & Moon
Sunset
Sunrise
Current Moon
Waxing Crescent
8% illumination
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Long-Term Aurora Forecast for Anchorage, AK
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wednesday, June 17, 2026. Today. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 2 out of 10. Waxing crescent, 8% illumination | Thursday, June 18, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. Waxing crescent, 16% illumination | Friday, June 19, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 2 out of 10. Waxing crescent, 25% illumination | Saturday, June 20, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 2 out of 10. First quarter, 35% illumination | Sunday, June 21, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. First quarter, 46% illumination | ||
Monday, June 22, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. First quarter, 56% illumination | Tuesday, June 23, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. First quarter, 66% illumination | Wednesday, June 24, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. Waxing gibbous, 75% illumination | Thursday, June 25, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 2 out of 10. Waxing gibbous, 83% illumination | Friday, June 26, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. Waxing gibbous, 89% illumination | Saturday, June 27, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. Waxing gibbous, 94% illumination | Sunday, June 28, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. Full moon, 98% illumination |
Monday, June 29, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. Full moon, 100% illumination | Tuesday, June 30, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. Full moon, 100% illumination | Wednesday, July 1, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. Full moon, 98% illumination | Thursday, July 2, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. Waning gibbous, 94% illumination | Friday, July 3, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 2 out of 10. Waning gibbous, 89% illumination | Saturday, July 4, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. Waning gibbous, 82% illumination | Sunday, July 5, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. Waning gibbous, 74% illumination |
Monday, July 6, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. Last quarter, 64% illumination | Tuesday, July 7, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. Last quarter, 54% illumination | Wednesday, July 8, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 2 out of 10. Last quarter, 43% illumination | Thursday, July 9, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 2 out of 10. Last quarter, 32% illumination | Friday, July 10, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. Waning crescent, 21% illumination | Saturday, July 11, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. Waning crescent, 12% illumination | Sunday, July 12, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. Waning crescent, 6% illumination |
Monday, July 13, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. New moon, 1% illumination | Tuesday, July 14, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. New moon, 0% illumination |
LowAurora ActivityHigh
Anchorage Aurora Guide
Found in Alaska, Anchorage offers unique opportunities for aurora hunters visiting United States. At a latitude of 61.2°, it is further south than traditional aurora hotspots. While it takes patience and luck, catching a display from here is an unforgettable experience.
When to see auroras in Anchorage
While auroras are driven by solar storms rather than seasons, you still need dark skies. In Anchorage, your best chances are during the darker months from October through February.
FAQ
What Kp index do I need to see the northern lights in Anchorage?
In Anchorage, you usually need at least Kp 3 to have a reasonable chance of seeing the northern lights. Lower Kp can still bring a faint aurora display low on the northern horizon, but it is less common.
This is based on magnetic latitude, and Kp index is a global geomagnetic index, so treat it as a rule of thumb, not a location-specific guarantee.
Tonight, the NOAA Kp index forecast is around 1.7. That is below the usual Kp index threshold for Anchorage, so seeing the aurora is unlikely.