Tonight
May 21 - May 22
- 2 °C
100 percent cloud cover - -0 °C99 percent cloud cover
- -0 °C100 percent cloud cover
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Northern Lights Forecast for Rankin Inlet
Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, Canada
62°48′32.8″N ⋅ 92°5′7.1″W
Aurora data last updated at
Current local time:
Aurora activity is expected to be moderate between 8 PM and 6 AM in Rankin Inlet tonight. Cloud cover around that time looks overcast at around 100%. There may be good aurora activity overhead, but thick cloud could block the view.
Aurora Forecast for Rankin Inlet
Today at 5:00 PM
Low Activity
Cloud Cover:92%
Aurora activity
High clouds
Middle clouds
Low clouds
Fog
Aurora activity
High clouds
Middle clouds
Low clouds
Fog
Hourly aurora forecast for Rankin Inlet
| Local time | Aurora activity |
|---|---|
| Low Activity | |
| Moderate Activity | |
| Moderate Activity | |
| Moderate Activity | |
| Moderate Activity | |
| Low Activity | |
| Low Activity | |
| Low Activity | |
| Low Activity | |
| Moderate Activity | |
| Moderate Activity | |
| Moderate Activity | |
| Moderate Activity | |
| Low Activity | |
| Low Activity | |
| Low Activity |
3-Night Weather Forecast for Rankin Inlet
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Tomorrow night
May 22 - May 23
- -0 °C100 percent cloud cover
- -1 °C100 percent cloud cover
- -1 °C100 percent cloud cover
Saturday night
May 23 - May 24
- 2 °C100 percent cloud cover
- 2 °C
45 percent cloud cover - 2 °C6 percent cloud cover
Sun & Moon
Sunset
Sunrise
Current Moon
First Quarter
32% illumination
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Long-Term Aurora Forecast for Rankin Inlet
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thursday, May 21, 2026. Today. High aurora activity. Aurora score 7 out of 10. Waxing crescent, 29% illumination | Friday, May 22, 2026. Moderate aurora activity. Aurora score 6 out of 10. First quarter, 40% illumination | Saturday, May 23, 2026. Moderate aurora activity. Aurora score 6 out of 10. First quarter, 50% illumination | Sunday, May 24, 2026. Moderate aurora activity. Aurora score 5 out of 10. First quarter, 61% illumination | |||
Monday, May 25, 2026. Moderate aurora activity. Aurora score 5 out of 10. Waxing gibbous, 71% illumination | Tuesday, May 26, 2026. Moderate aurora activity. Aurora score 5 out of 10. Waxing gibbous, 79% illumination | Wednesday, May 27, 2026. High aurora activity. Aurora score 7 out of 10. Waxing gibbous, 87% illumination | Thursday, May 28, 2026. Moderate aurora activity. Aurora score 6 out of 10. Waxing gibbous, 93% illumination | Friday, May 29, 2026. Moderate aurora activity. Aurora score 6 out of 10. Full moon, 97% illumination | Saturday, May 30, 2026. Moderate aurora activity. Aurora score 6 out of 10. Full moon, 99% illumination | Sunday, May 31, 2026. Moderate aurora activity. Aurora score 6 out of 10. Full moon, 100% illumination |
Monday, June 1, 2026. Moderate aurora activity. Aurora score 5 out of 10. Full moon, 99% illumination | Tuesday, June 2, 2026. Moderate aurora activity. Aurora score 5 out of 10. Waning gibbous, 96% illumination | Wednesday, June 3, 2026. Moderate aurora activity. Aurora score 5 out of 10. Waning gibbous, 91% illumination | Thursday, June 4, 2026. High aurora activity. Aurora score 7 out of 10. Waning gibbous, 85% illumination | Friday, June 5, 2026. Moderate aurora activity. Aurora score 5 out of 10. Waning gibbous, 78% illumination | Saturday, June 6, 2026. Moderate aurora activity. Aurora score 5 out of 10. Last quarter, 69% illumination | Sunday, June 7, 2026. Moderate aurora activity. Aurora score 5 out of 10. Last quarter, 60% illumination |
Monday, June 8, 2026. Moderate aurora activity. Aurora score 5 out of 10. Last quarter, 49% illumination | Tuesday, June 9, 2026. Moderate aurora activity. Aurora score 6 out of 10. Last quarter, 39% illumination | Wednesday, June 10, 2026. Moderate aurora activity. Aurora score 5 out of 10. Waning crescent, 28% illumination | Thursday, June 11, 2026. High aurora activity. Aurora score 7 out of 10. Waning crescent, 19% illumination | Friday, June 12, 2026. High aurora activity. Aurora score 7 out of 10. Waning crescent, 10% illumination | Saturday, June 13, 2026. High aurora activity. Aurora score 7 out of 10. Waning crescent, 4% illumination | Sunday, June 14, 2026. High aurora activity. Aurora score 7 out of 10. New moon, 1% illumination |
Monday, June 15, 2026. Moderate aurora activity. Aurora score 5 out of 10. New moon, 0% illumination | Tuesday, June 16, 2026. Moderate aurora activity. Aurora score 5 out of 10. New moon, 3% illumination | Wednesday, June 17, 2026. Moderate aurora activity. Aurora score 6 out of 10. Waxing crescent, 8% illumination |
LowAurora ActivityHigh
Northern Lights in Rankin Inlet
Rankin Inlet is situated in Canada's Nunavut area. At a latitude of 62.8°, it is further south than traditional aurora hotspots. Keep a close eye on space weather forecasts and be ready to travel to darker skies if a severe storm hits.
When to Visit Rankin Inlet
Because you need absolute darkness to see the lights this far south, limit your aurora hunting in Rankin Inlet to the late autumn and winter months. Summer nights here simply are not dark enough.
FAQ
What Kp index do I need to see the northern lights in Rankin Inlet?
In Rankin Inlet, even quiet geomagnetic conditions can be enough for aurora overhead.
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 1.7 to 2.7. You should have a good chance of seeing the aurora if the sky is clear.