Tonight
Jul 9 - Jul 10
- 58 °F
73 percent cloud cover - 56 °F
83 percent cloud cover - 54 °F56 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 5 PM and 8 AM in Anchorage tonight. Cloud cover around that time looks mostly cloudy at 35% to 95%. Low activity and cloud cover together may make the aurora difficult to spot.
Aurora Forecast for Anchorage, AK
Today at 10:00 AM
Low Activity
Cloud Cover:100%
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 | |
| No activity | |
| No activity | |
| Low Activity | |
| Low Activity | |
| Low Activity | |
| Low Activity | |
| Low Activity | |
| Low Activity | |
| No activity | |
| No activity | |
| No activity | |
| Low Activity | |
| Low Activity | |
| Low Activity | |
| Low Activity |
3-Night Weather Forecast for Anchorage, AK
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Tomorrow night
Jul 10 - Jul 11
- 66 °F
2 percent cloud cover - 60 °F
27 percent cloud cover - 57 °F63 percent cloud cover
Saturday night
Jul 11 - Jul 12
- 56 °F
100 percent cloud cover - 56 °F67 percent cloud cover
Sun & Moon
Sunset
Sunrise
Current Moon
Waning Crescent
30% illumination
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Long-Term Aurora Forecast for Anchorage, AK
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thursday, July 9, 2026. Today. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 2 out of 10. Last quarter, 32% illumination | Friday, July 10, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 2 out of 10. Waning crescent, 21% illumination | Saturday, July 11, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 2 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 | Wednesday, July 15, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. New moon, 2% illumination | Thursday, July 16, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. Waxing crescent, 6% illumination | Friday, July 17, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. Waxing crescent, 13% illumination | Saturday, July 18, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. Waxing crescent, 21% illumination | Sunday, July 19, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. Waxing crescent, 31% illumination |
Monday, July 20, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. First quarter, 41% illumination | Tuesday, July 21, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. First quarter, 51% illumination | Wednesday, July 22, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 2 out of 10. First quarter, 60% illumination | Thursday, July 23, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 2 out of 10. Waxing gibbous, 69% illumination | Friday, July 24, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. Waxing gibbous, 78% illumination | Saturday, July 25, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. Waxing gibbous, 85% illumination | Sunday, July 26, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. Waxing gibbous, 91% illumination |
Monday, July 27, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. Waxing gibbous, 96% illumination | Tuesday, July 28, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. Full moon, 99% illumination | Wednesday, July 29, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. Full moon, 100% illumination | Thursday, July 30, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. Full moon, 99% illumination | Friday, July 31, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. Full moon, 97% illumination | Saturday, August 1, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. Waning gibbous, 92% illumination | Sunday, August 2, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. Waning gibbous, 85% illumination |
Monday, August 3, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 1 out of 10. Waning gibbous, 77% illumination | Tuesday, August 4, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 2 out of 10. Last quarter, 67% illumination | Wednesday, August 5, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 2 out of 10. Last quarter, 57% 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 2.6 to 3.0. That is a bit below the usual Kp index threshold for Anchorage, so there is still a small chance of seeing faint aurora low on the northern horizon.