How often is the aurora borealis forecast updated?

This site reads the latest NOAA SWPC OVATION forecast products. NOAA serves the map image and JSON with short cache windows, so the live view refreshes frequently throughout the day.

Does a strong aurora signal guarantee visibility?

No. You still need darkness, clear skies, and a viewing position far enough north or close enough to the forecast oval for the aurora to be visible.

Is this an official NOAA website?

No. This is an independent site that presents NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center data with branding, summary cards, and explanatory context.

NOAA-powered northern lights signal

Real-time Aurora Borealis Forecast

Watch the latest north-pole aurora map, scan fast regional signals for Iceland through Scotland, and read NOAA’s OVATION forecast without digging through a government interface.

View Live Map How To Read It

Source: NOAA SWPC Model: OVATION Prime Refreshing live data…

Northern Hemisphere

Live NOAA aurora forecast map

Rendering NOAA’s latest northern hemisphere image.

Regional Quick Look

Six regions, simplified from the live aurora grid.

These cards summarize the current north-side signal near common aurora viewing destinations. Stronger cards mean the oval is pressing farther south or intensifying near that region.

Loading live regional signals…

Regional scores are derived from nearby NOAA OVATION grid cells and translated into plain-language watch levels for quicker scanning.

How To Read It

The map is only one part of seeing the aurora.

1. Watch the oval edge

The closer the bright oval pushes toward your latitude, the better your chance of seeing the aurora.

2. Darkness still matters

The aurora is not visible in daylight, even during strong activity. Local sunset and true darkness matter.

3. Clear skies beat high numbers

Cloud cover can erase a promising forecast. Check local weather before you travel or drive north.

4. Use the lead time correctly

The forecast lead reflects solar-wind travel time from L1 to Earth, so conditions can shift quickly.

Southern Hemisphere

Reference view for aurora australis

Aurora borealis is the main focus here, but the same NOAA feed also provides a live southern hemisphere view for anyone tracking aurora australis conditions.

Rendering NOAA’s latest southern hemisphere image.

FAQ

Fast answers before you chase the lights

Is this forecast live?

It reads NOAA SWPC’s current aurora products directly in the browser. This site adds branding, regional summaries, and a more readable layout on top of the official feed.

Why can a strong forecast still look quiet where I am?

Local light pollution, cloud cover, moonlight, and being south of the active oval can all reduce or erase visibility even when the signal looks active on the map.

What do the regional cards actually mean?

Each card samples nearby points from NOAA’s OVATION aurora grid and converts that signal into a plain language watch level for quick scanning.