About the Alaska Aurora Forecast
The AuroraVision forecast for Alaska uses real-time data from NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, updated every 2 minutes. Our visibility score combines solar wind Bz, speed, particle density, magnetic field strength, and local cloud cover.
Fairbanks is the undisputed aurora capital of North America. Located at 64.8°N, the city sits directly under the auroral oval and enjoys some of the clearest winter skies of any aurora destination worldwide. The dry interior climate gives Fairbanks an average of 240+ clear-sky hours per aurora season — far more than Norwegian or Finnish alternatives.
Live Forecast by Location
Real-time aurora scores across Alaska — cloud cover fetched per city
Cloud cover fetched per GPS location · Solar wind is global · Auto-updates every 2 min
Key Forecast Factors
Five data points that determine aurora visibility in Alaska
Bz (nT)
Southward Bz is the primary trigger. Fairbanks at 64.8°N sits under the auroral oval during most active events.
Solar Wind Speed
Fast solar wind (>500 km/s) drives aurora south. Fairbanks sees strong aurora even at KP 3–4 with high speed.
Magnetic Field Bt
Total IMF strength. Alaska's sub-auroral to auroral latitude means Bt plays a strong amplifying role.
Particle Density
Solar wind proton density. Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) bring dense plasma clouds that light up Alaska skies.
Cloud Cover
Interior Alaska (Fairbanks) has a dry continental climate with excellent clear-sky rates in winter compared to coastal Anchorage.
Best Viewing Window in Alaska
Best viewing window is 22:00–02:00 AKST (UTC-9). Fairbanks aurora season runs September through April, with peak months November through February. The midnight equinox effect means September and March often have unexpectedly strong aurora.
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