Southern lights in Oamaru, Otago, New Zealand
Very unlikely
Forecast activity is well below the level needed at this latitude.
- Max Kp forecast tonight
- 1.7
- Kp needed for the horizon
- 5.8
- Kp needed overhead
- 8.8
Kp forecast for Oamaru
Quiet Active (Kp 4) Storm (Kp 5+) Strong storm (Kp 7+) · Faded bars are predictions. Times in local time.
Can you see the southern lights from Oamaru?
Oamaru is at about 49° geomagnetic latitude. Aurora can appear low over the southern horizon when the Kp index reaches about 5.8, and overhead from about Kp 8.8. That means g1 minor storm conditions or stronger.
For the best chance, wait until it is fully dark, leave the town lights behind and face south with a clear, low view of the horizon. Displays often come in bursts of 10 to 30 minutes, so stay out for a while. Your phone's night mode may show colour before your eyes do.
Kp data: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, updated 14 Nov 18:45 UTC. The outlook uses a centred-dipole geomagnetic latitude and a rule of thumb for the edge of the auroral oval. Real displays vary, so treat it as a guide. Sources and methods.