Aurora Borealis Info
aurora borealis rovaniemi lapland
When is the best time to visit?
Aurora info
Generally speaking, you can see auroras on many nights in Lapland (3 nights out of 4). However, the intensity of the auroras varies from night to night. Sometimes, the aurora is small, and can be seen in the form of an arc over the horizon. Other times, there is an aurora storm, and the northern lights are dancing all over the skies! It is impossible to predict the aurora activity more than a few days in advance. Also, clouds have a lot to do with chances of seeing northern lights. For example, it is cloudy in Rovaniemi area on 9 nights out of 10 (on average), so this means you won’t be seeing auroras on 3 nights out of 4, unless you are willing to go hunting & searching for clear skies.
The best seasons for northern lights is from early September until the end of October, as well as from February through March and beginning of April. This is when you are 2 x times more likely to see big auroras, compared to Nov & Dec. Also, it is less cloudy in autumn & spring. You can read why in more detail about best months to see northern lights!
November & December can be considered average months for aurora activity. We do see lots of auroras during these months, however, they are more likely to be smaller. Aurora storms are possible, but less likely.
November, in my experience, is the toughest month to see the auroras. This is when winter begins in Lapland, and it snows quite a lot and it’s very cloudy, making it very challenging to hunt the auroras. We often need to go on very long tours lasting 10–14 hours, with hundreds of kilometres of driving to find clear skies.
December is a better month for northern lights than November. Cold winter weather usually allows for more clear skies than November. However, keep in mind that December is a very busy month for tourism, and the prices for hotels are at their highest. I also have quite many requests for tours, so please contact me in advance.
January is better than December, because it is less busy in Lapland, and the prices are reasonable. Usually, it is very cold, and there is plenty of opportunity to see the auroras. For all of my tours, you get warm clothes & boots, however, while waiting for auroras, you can still feel cold. Most often, you can warm up in the car if it feels too much.
February is a great month for auroras, and you can feel the aurora activity intensifying. The northern lights often appear as bigger, sometimes covering half of the night sky.
March & early April is when aurora activity gets better again, and it is great time for aurora hunting! There’s still lots of snow, and you can enjoy winter activities like skiing. The temperatures are also not as cold as in December or January, making the wait for auroras a little bit more pleasant. Also, it is much less cloudy than in November or December. This is why I consider March & early April the best winter months to visit Lapland.
Early April is often still a good time for auroras, however the night time grows shorter quickly. The Aurora season ends somewhere in Mid-April, when the nights are becoming too short. However, the activity is often very good, and the last tours of the season are usually done around 10–15 of April.
From end-April to mid-August it’s a summer break from auroras. This is when I hunt for another light phenomenon, the Midnight Sun!
What are the best months to see northern lights?
Best months to see auroras are September, October, February, March & Early April.
FAQ: All About Aurora
I still remember my first nights chasing the aurora — full of excitement and questions.
To help you get ready, I’ve gathered answers to the most common things people ask. Let’s make your northern lights adventure unforgettable!
What is aurora boreals?
Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, is a natural light display that appears in the sky — most often visible in the high-latitude areas such as Finnish Lapland, Norway, Iceland, Russia, Alaska Canada etc.
Auroras happen when charged particles from the sun (solar wind) collide with Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere. These collisions excite atoms like oxygen and nitrogen, causing them to glow in beautiful colors — typically green, pink and red.
When can you see the northern lights, and what’s the best time of year?
Aurora is visible from mid-August until end-April – when there is night in Lapland. It is not possible to see auroras in summer months (May-August) because there is daylight around the clock. I organize my tours from September until Mid-April, when there is enough night time available to have a good chance of seeing the auroras.
Best times to see the auroras are around Equinoxes – September & October, as well as March & early April. This is due to the “Equinox effect”, and it is backed by statistics.
Auroras are of course also visible in November, Decemeber, January and February – depending on the weatther & aurora activitity.
The main issue with aurora visibility is cloudy weather. It does not matter how strong the activity is, if the clouds are are covering the show. It is also important to be outside of city lights. This is what the tour is for – finding clear skies, pristine nature areas, and auroras.
How Often Are Auroras Visible?
This is really impossible to answer precisely. I estimate that auroras are visible on about 85–90% of the nights in Lapland — but only if the skies are clear.
On those nights, auroras can range from a faint line on the horizon lasting just 5 minutes, to intense displays dancing across the entire sky for hours. Or anything in between!
With regular solar activity, they often appear as an arc (or two) near the northern horizon, typically lasting 15–90 minutes per night. They may shift, ascend in the sky and ripple slightly, but usually don’t explode overhead.
Does the Moon Affect Aurora Visibility?
Aurora visibility to the naked eye can be affected by the moon phase.
During a full moon, the extra ambient light can wash out faint auroras, especially for those seeing them for the first time. Subtle arcs and colors may be harder to notice in bright conditions.
However, when auroral activity is moderate to strong, the moon’s brightness is less of a problem — and can even be a benefit. A moonlit landscape helps illuminate trees, snow, and foreground details, often resulting in better photos.
If you want to play it safe, aim for a new moon or crescent phase.
That way, you’ll get darker skies for visibility, with just enough light for photogenic scenes.