What is an aurora forecast?

An aurora forecast estimates where the northern lights are most likely to be visible. It is usually based on geomagnetic activity, particle flux, and atmospheric conditions, then mapped to geographic regions where viewing chances are highest.

Forecast maps help observers decide when and where to look. Visibility can change quickly, so live data is more useful than a static prediction when planning a viewing trip.

Tool description

This tool shows the latest aurora borealis forecast on an interactive map. It visualizes forecast regions by chance level, lets you filter the view, and highlights where current activity is strongest.

It is designed for quick situational awareness rather than scientific analysis.

Features

  • Live forecast map: Displays up-to-date aurora data on an interactive geographic view
  • Chance filtering: Lets you narrow the map to stronger or weaker forecast areas
  • Visual legend: Uses color shading to make the forecast easier to scan at a glance

How it works

The tool fetches current NOAA aurora forecast data and renders the reported regions on a Leaflet map. Areas with no useful chance value are omitted so the map stays focused on actionable forecast zones.

Limitations

  • It depends on live NOAA data and network access.
  • Forecast coverage can change as the source data updates.
  • The map is a visualization of reported forecast regions, not a guarantee of visible aurora.