Sky & atmosphere · United States · winter
Aurora in Fairbanks
Northern and southern lights, scored from geomagnetic activity, darkness, and cloud.
Readiness
High confidence52
Peak in 1 day
Live summary
As of 8 Nov 2026, Aurora readiness in Fairbanks, United States is 52 out of 100, phase emerging. The latest planetary K-index is 4.7. Mean cloud cover over the next three days is 80%.
- Readiness
- 52 / 100
- Status
- Developing
- Confidence
- High confidence
- Evidence type
- Forecast
- Model
- Geomagnetic activity, darkness, and cloud
- Timing
- Peak in 1 day
- Estimated peak window
- 31 Oct 2026 – 18 Nov 2026
- Climatological peak
- 15 Jan 2027
- Adjusted peak
- 9 Nov 2026
- Accumulated GDD
- n/a
- Planetary K-index
- 4.67
- NDVI
- n/a
- Cloud cover, next 3 days
- 80%
- Coordinates
- 64.84° N, 147.72° W
- Updated
- 9 Nov 2026, 08:42 UTC
This score uses geomagnetic activity, darkness, and cloud.
Live camera
All-sky view from Poker Flat Research Range, northeast of Fairbanks. The camera runs after dark and shows its schedule during the day.
Open the Poker Flat camera · University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute
Fourteen-day outlook
Projected readiness for each day. Botanical and wildlife bars use forecast temperature. Meteor shower bars combine stream activity, lunar phase, and forecast cloud cover. Aurora bars use the NOAA 3-day Kp forecast when available and a quiet-oval baseline with forecast cloud cover for days 4–14.
Sun 8
56 out of 100 on 2026-11-08
Kp 5.0
Mon 9
58 out of 100 on 2026-11-09
Kp 4.7
Tue 10
52 out of 100 on 2026-11-10
Kp 3.7
Wed 11
31 out of 100 on 2026-11-11
Kp 2.7
Thu 12
19 out of 100 on 2026-11-12
Kp 2.0
Fri 13
25 out of 100 on 2026-11-13
86% cld
Sat 14
23 out of 100 on 2026-11-14
99% cld
Sun 15
22 out of 100 on 2026-11-15
100% cld
Mon 16
26 out of 100 on 2026-11-16
78% cld
Tue 17
30 out of 100 on 2026-11-17
57% cld
Wed 18
32 out of 100 on 2026-11-18
45% cld
Thu 19
30 out of 100 on 2026-11-19
58% cld
Fri 20
23 out of 100 on 2026-11-20
97% cld
Sat 21
23 out of 100 on 2026-11-21
99% cld
Field notes & historical context
Interior Alaska sits under the auroral oval on quiet and active nights.
Auroral ovals sit near 65°–70° geomagnetic latitude on quiet nights (Kp 2–3) and expand equatorward during geomagnetic storms (Kp 5+). Nautical darkness and clear skies are required.
64.84° N, 147.72° W · America/Anchorage
Sources & data freshness
Forecast · High confidence · Updated 9 Nov 2026, 08:42 UTC
- NOAA SWPC Planetary K-Index
Geomagnetic activity (3-hour Kp observed & forecast)
- Open-Meteo Weather Forecast
Local cloud cover and precipitation outlook
Safety & responsible visiting
Sub-arctic and polar night viewing involves extreme cold, icy roads, and limited cell coverage. Never stop on unlit highway shoulders; use designated dark-sky pullouts and carry winter emergency gear.
Natural phenomena depend on live weather, local access rules, and habitat conditions. Verify local advisories before travelling.
Ground-truth provenance
Community reportField observations for Fairbanks
Community observations supplement satellite and weather models with eye-level reports. Every submission is tagged as a Community report with provenance and moderation status—never blended silently into automated readiness scores.
No community field reports have been logged for Fairbanks in this session yet.
Related places
Other Aurora regions on the index.