Best Month to Visit Northern Lights
Editor's seasonal guidance
Best: Aurora season (September-March), Peak darkness (November-February)
Arctic and sub-arctic climates with extreme seasonal variation
Northern Lights viewing depends on three factors: solar activity, clear skies, and darkness. The auroral oval typically sits between 65-72°N latitude. Coastal locations (Tromsø, Lofoten) are milder but cloudier, while inland sites (Abisko, Finnish Lapland) offer clearer skies but extreme cold reaching -30°C.
- Typically sunnier
- February, March
- Typically wetter
- September, October
Qualitative editorial guidance, not measured climate normals. This site does not currently publish monthly temperature or rainfall averages because it has no verified climate dataset.
Daylight through the year in Northern Lights
Daylight, midday sun angle and golden-hour length calculated for Northern Lights's own coordinates (69.65° N, 18.96° E) on the 15th of each month. These are solar geometry, not climate averages.
| Month | Daylight | Sun at solar noon | Golden hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0 h (sun never rises) | 0° | No standard window |
| February | 7 h 6 min | 7° | 182 min |
| March | 11 h 18 min | 18° | 118 min |
| April | 15 h 54 min | 30° | 130 min |
| May | 21 h 54 min | 39° | 213 min |
| June | 24 h (sun never sets) | 44° | 134 min |
| July | 24 h (sun never sets) | 42° | 169 min |
| August | 18 h 0 min | 34° | 158 min |
| September | 13 h 6 min | 23° | 116 min |
| October | 8 h 42 min | 11° | 140 min |
| November | 3 h 36 min | 1° | 175 min |
| December | 0 h (sun never rises) | 0° | No standard window |
Deciding within the next week? Best day to visit Northern Lights ranks the live 7-day forecast. Full current conditions: weather in Northern Lights.