Best months to see northern lights!
What is the best time to visit Lapland? When should I travel to Lapland? What months have the highest chance to see the northern lights? Read further!The overview
Aurora Season in Lapland
Northern lights are visible in Lapland for a period of over 8 months, from mid-August until late April. Technically speaking, the aurora activity happens all-year-round, but due to bright summer nights the auroras are not visible from May until early August.
There are a lot of things that influence one’s chances to see auroras, such as the Solar activity, weather, location etc. Solar activity is the main factor that defines the auroral activity, and that’s why predicting the best aurora month in a particular year is impossible task.
During the Solar Maximum years the solar activity is more volatile, producing more solar events that influence the auroras. Their timing can be quite random, and impossible to predict. Current Solar Maximum occupies the years of 2023–2028, the next maximum could occur around 2032–2029. Solar minimum produces less solar events but does not mean that auroras will not happen – they will keep going in the Northern latitudes.
There are also some recurring factors such as the “Equinox Effect (Russel–McPherron Effect). It’s presence is felt twice a year, around autumn and spring equinoxes, for a period of 4-6 weeks at a time. Near the equinoxes, the angle between Earth’s magnetic field and the solar wind changes in a way that makes certain solar wind magnetic-field orientations affect the Earth’s magnetosphere differently. That’s why certain months, such as September, October, March & Early April can get a boost of auroral activity.
The influence of the Equinox effect becomes more significant in Solar Minimum, when the Solar activity is less volatile. Worth knowing is that the Equinox effect does not work on every night, and some nights it can also affect auroral activity in a negative way. There is no way to predict this, until the night really begins. Still, there is something magical about the Equinoxes – the feeling of being outside in the starry skies and the landscapes.
Each month in the auroral season has its own properties and expectations, and this article uncovers them in more detail. Hopefully, this information will be helpful for your journey!
Certain months, such as September, October, March & Early April can get a boost of auroral activity from the so-called “Equinox effect”.
aurora season begins in
August
August is when the night returns to Lapland after the summer break. The transition is slow, and the nights are slowly getting darker.
During the 1st week of August it is still too bright to see anything. However, starting from 2nd–3rd week we can see a glimpses of aurora. The earliest start for the aurora season for me was on the 8th of August in 2022, which was due to high solar activity during those weeks, however, it is quite normal to wait until 15–20 August to really start seeing auroras.
First auroras are always very exciting to see, even if they appear less vibrant due to night skies not being fully dark yet. In Mid-August, part of the sky stays bright throughout the whole night due to proximity of the Sun to the horizon.
From 4th week of August we can start see the auroras getting brighter. Real darkness begins and lasts longer. The chances to see the auroras get better and this is when I start the aurora hunting tours! The magical part of August auroras it’s still summer, and the nights are very comfortable and warm.
the equinox effect begins in
September
September is one of the best months to see auroras, for various reasons.
The Equinox effect starts to be present, allowing us to see vibrant auroras more frequently. Sometimes, even a regular night provides for a good show, even without good forecast. I have experienced this many times myself during my 15 years of hunting auroras.
Another great thing about September is the weather. Daytime temperatures are still around +5…+15°C (41…59°F), and even at night time it is relatively warm, usually around 0°C (32°F). If you don’t want to experience super cold winter temperatures in the range of -25…-35°C (-13…-31°F), September could be the right month for you. As a bonus we can enjoy the beautiful fall colours of Lapland.
Third reason is that the water is not frozen yet. The rivers and lakes are free of ice and that gives us an amazing opportunity to photograph aurora reflections in the water.
Last, but not least, is the night skies. They are quite magical in autumn. Without the snow and ice on the ground, it is the darkest month of the year (along with October), allowing for more contrast to observe and to photograph the sky. Also, the Milky was is also better visible in autumn, adding to the experience!
Aurora likes us in
October
October has long been my favourite month to see the auroras (also, my birthday is in October!). Some of my craziest and most memorable auroras nights are from this month, and new ones keep on coming.
Of course, the best dates are impossible to predict, but there are usually several of them in October, when the auroras are dancing all night! Yes, there are also lots of “regular nights”, however, surprises are possible.
In October, darkness comes sooner, which is helpful for hunting early auroras, and making stunning photos. It gets colder, and there are often night frosts with temperatures going down to –10°C (–14°F). If you feel like freezing don’t worry — warm overalls and good winter boots are included in my tours. There might be some snowfalls, however, in later years, permanent snow tends to come later. Aurora reflections are usually possible for most of the month.
The Equinox effect last several weeks and October gets a good share of the action. That’s why October stands out even more than September in terms of aurora statistics. In any case, October simply feels like magic.
The challenge begins in
November
November, in my experience, is one the toughest months for auroras. This is something that changes year-over-year, and in 2024-2025 November was quite spectacular, but I tend to think that we just had better luck with solar activity during Solar Max.
The problem is the weather. At some point, we can get lengthy periods of cloudy weather in the whole Scandinavia. The Atlantic Ocean cools down, bringing us lots of clouds and precipitation. This might come as snowfalls, or sometimes even rain.
The exact timing of bad weather hard to predict. Some years, cloudy weather begins earlier, end-October, other times later, in November, or December. This is what makes finding clear skies and auroras quite challenging.
To escape the clouds, we can drive up to 450 kilometres away from Rovaniemi. Sometimes, we wander into the very North of Finnish Lapland, Swedish Lapland or Norway. Our success rate is over 95% but it comes at a tough price: departing early and staying up until late.
The Equinox effect is no longer present, and many things depend on the solar activity. If it is high, November can be a good month, but if it’s low, we are more likely to get normal aurora activity. That’s why I like to approach early winter months with modest expectations. It’s better to be surprised than disappointed!
Christmas lights are on in
December
December can be good month for aurora hunting, but it has its challenges. They are similar to November, in terms of cloudy weather. However, cold and dry Arctic air might win over the warm Atlantic air, and give us more clear skies. Cold itself does not make better auroras, but it helps with the clouds.
December is usually quite successful with the hunts, but it can be challenging both with long distances and the cold. It can get below –30°C (-22°F), and. that’s why I don’t recommend taking kids below 10 years of age on the tour. Yes, we can warm up in the van, but it’s a better experience for adults who can handle the cold better.
Keep in mind that December & Christmas is a very popular time for tourism in Lapland. This is when the prices for hotels and flights are at their highest,. My tours in December are usually quite full, and I recommend to book a tour well in advance. But yes, Christmas magic is there, with Christmas lights lighting up not only on in town, but also up in the skies!
December is the time when the Polar night or “kaamos” begins in Lapland. The days are very short, with only 4–5 hours of daylight. It gets dark by 4PM and on some nights, the Polar night allows us to see very early auroras — a unique experience!
classic auroras are often in
January
January is the “classic” aurora hunting month. It is cold, snowy, and the auroras dance quite often. The Polar night is still strong and days are short. On many nights, you can see the very typical auroras in the form of the arches above the snowy trees. And yes, stronger auroras dancing in the skies are also possible, especially on our long tours in the North of Lapland.
January is the coldest month in Lapland. On some nights, the temperature goes down to –35°C (–22°F) – that’s normal weather!
The cold doesn’t stop us. We come well prepared, with extra gear, snowuites and heavy boots. January often requires patience and staying out in the cold for many hours. That’s why I also recommend putting some long sleeve shirts, technical underwear, sweater, and wooden socks – the colder it is, the more layers you will need. We also can run the van and warm up inside.
Yet, despite the cold weather, Rovaniemi often tends to stays cloudy & snowy. The city it is situated near two river valleys and that also draws fog. That is not a problem for us, because we go far outside of the city, and we choose the places for our aurora tour according to the weather.
Aurora hunting is fun in
February
February is a transitional month between winter and spring. This means two things:
The Polar Night ends, and the days are becoming longer and sunnier. This is quite welcome after the long dark winter! The amount of snowfall usually decreases, and finding clear skies & aurora can be a little easier.
In February, there are many beautiful nights with auroras, and medium-strong auroras are frequent. The closer we get to the Spring Equinox – the easier it tends to get.
A good reason to travel to Lapland in February is because there is plenty of snow. It means that all winter activities are running, and you can go skiing, snowmobiling or husky riding. Usually, the trees are still deep frozen with snow, and one can visit magical winter places such as the Riisitunturi national park.
So, February is a great month not only for auroras, but to admire the winter beauty of Lapland.
Aurora magic happens in
March
March is definitely one of my favourite months for aurora hunting! The aurora activity reaches its second peak after September-October. The Equinox Effect returns, bringing more variation to aurora activity. The effect fades in gradually in the beginning of March, and becomes more noticeable towards the end of the month.
Many nights in March is filled with auroras! Not all of them reach storm level and most nights are quite normal. However, even on a regular night you can be positively surprised. Aurora arches are rising high in the sky, and they often dance. Sometimes, aurora can explode above your head, without a warning.
Then, there are aurora storms. They come as a result of high Solar activity, such as Coronal Mass Ejections or “explosions on the Sun”, or streams of solar wind from Coronal holes. During an aurora storm, the sky can explode multiple times, and auroras can last for several hours, or sometimes, all night! The exact timing of aurora storms is hard to predict, but it’s statistically more likely to see one in March than in December.
In March there is still lots of snow, and you can experience all winter activities. In my opinion, out of all snowy months, March offers the best chances for auroras, and often – better weather. That’s why I warmly recommend March to travel to Lapland.
The end of the season is in
April
April is a super exciting month for aurora hunting. It has it all! Great auroras, big hunts, the joy of success, but also the pain of letting aurora go — April is the end of the aurora season.
The Equinox effect is still very strong in early April. This means that chances for big auroras to happen are equally high in April as in March.
However, after the spring Equinox, the night time decreases rapidly in Lapland. In early April, the night time lasts for about 4-5 hours, still giving us fair chances to see the auroras. But, with each day, the night time shortens, reducing the chances.
By Mid-April seeing auroras becomes challenging. The darkness arrives only at midnight. On some nights auroras can still put a good show, but on other nights the activity might peak earlier, before we get darkness to see it.
Last chances to see auroras in Lapland are around 20–25th April. At that time darkness lasts only a couple of hours, and seeing auroras becomes accidental. The latest auroras I’ve seen were on 30th April, but they looked very faint against the barely dark skies. This is a sign for us aurora hunters to go on the summer break!