Northern lights in Kirkenes

Tonight’s aurora forecast for Kirkenes, where to watch, and when the sky is usually clear.

The night of Monday 2 November, Kirkenes time (CET)

Worth heading out tonight

Best viewing window

22:00–22:30

Clouds may clear after 22:00.

Recommended: Gjøken · 101 min drive

  • CloudClouds may clear by 22:00Average cloud cover 29% in the window
  • AuroraModerate activityKp 2 forecast at its highest
  • DarknessFully darkDark from 16:00
  • MoonFaint aurora may be harder to seeUp all window · 38% lit

Medium confidence · Forecast data up to date · What this means

Forecast details
  • Cloud forecast updated 16:31
  • Aurora forecast issued 13:30
  • Recalculated by Little Aurora 17:45
  • This page made 17:49

Kirkenes time. The sources’ times say how fresh the forecast is; the page’s own time doesn’t. What these mean

Where to watch near Kirkenes

96-høyden

Hill

Tonight: wait for a clearer sky

Lookout tower on a 96 m hill in the Pasvik valley, a recommended aurora area; 45 minutes by car from Kirkenes.

Getting there
45 min drive
Darkness
Very dark: far from town lights
Good to know
The tower looks across the border to Russia; the Pasvik valley is a border zone with rules of conduct for visitors.

Directions in Maps · Public sources, not yet visited

Gjøken

Viewpoint

Tonight’s window: 22:00–22:30

Visitor point beside Øvre Pasvik, Norway's first dark-sky park, with lighting designed to keep the night sky dark.

Getting there
101 min drive
Darkness
Very dark: far from town lights
In winter
The outdoor facilities are open all year round for everybody.
Good to know
About 100 km south of Kirkenes on road 885, in the border zone with Russia and Finland; learn the rules of conduct before going.
Safety
Minus 30 °C is quite common in this area and needs proper clothing.

Directions in Maps · Public sources, not yet visited

Times are typical, from the centre of Kirkenes by road or path rather than in a straight line, and winter conditions can make them longer. Walking times don’t mean a route is lit or safe on foot in winter; check each spot’s notes.

Clear dark nights by month

  • 24% Jan
  • 22% Feb
  • 29% Mar
  • 27% Apr
  • – May
  • – Jun
  • – Jul
  • 17% Aug
  • 21% Sep
  • 23% Oct
  • 21% Nov
  • 24% Dec

The share of nights with at least two dark hours under 30% cloud cover, averaged by month over 1996–2025. It describes cloud, not aurora: a clear night still needs activity. A dash means no record for that month, usually because it doesn’t get dark. About this record

Questions

When is the best time to see the northern lights in Kirkenes?

In the dark months. Over 1996–2025, a clear spell after dark was likeliest in March and April, on about 29% of nights. That record is about cloud only: on any one night, the cloud and the activity forecast matter more than the season, so check on the day.

Where can you see the northern lights near Kirkenes?

This page lists 2 viewing spots near Kirkenes; the darkest is 96-høyden (45 min drive). Each has how to get there, parking, winter access and safety notes. Little Aurora picks the best one each night from cloud and darkness.

Aurora data from NOAA and GFZ. Cloud forecasts from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Places and travel times from OpenStreetMap contributors. Usual cloud from Copernicus ERA5 and weather-station records from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet, SMHI and the Icelandic Met Office. Forecasts are never guaranteed; conditions can change quickly. How the forecast works