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Northern Lights in Latvia: Where and When to See Them
In Latvia the aurora needs an active night. It shows up first near Jelgava, from about Kp 4.3. Near Jelgava, September has historically been the best month (6% of nights).
Can you see the northern lights in Latvia tonight?
Not tonight: activity is too low for Latvia. The forecast peaks at Kp 3.3, but you need about Kp 4.3 near Jelgava. A storm can build within a day, so check again tomorrow.
You also need a clear sky and real darkness: each town's page shows its cloud forecast and best hour tonight.
Where the aurora is visible tonight 3-day Kp forecast
Kp forecast: NOAA SWPC, checked every 10 minutes.
Where the aurora is easiest to see
| Place | Region | Kp needed | Kp for photos | Magnetic latitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ventspils | Ventspils | 4 | 2.3 | 54.2° |
| Valmiera | Valmiera Municipality | 4 | 2.3 | 54.3° |
| Cēsis | Cēsis Municipality | 4 | 2.3 | 54.1° |
| Limbaži | Limbaži Municipality | 4 | 2.3 | 54.3° |
| Alūksne | Alūksne Municipality | 4 | 2.3 | 54.2° |
| Smiltene | Smiltene Municipality | 4 | 2.3 | 54.2° |
| Valka | Valka Municipality | 4 | 2.3 | 54.6° |
| Riga | Riga District | 4.3 | 2.7 | 53.7° |
Largest cities
Live sightings
Where visitors are reporting the aurora right now. A place climbs with every report and drops again as the reports age.
- …
Latest reports
Regions of Latvia
- Riga DistrictKp 4.3+ · 2
- DaugavpilsKp 5+ · 1
- LiepājaKp 4.7+ · 1
- JelgavaKp 4.3+ · 1
- JūrmalaKp 4.3+ · 1
- Ogre MunicipalityKp 4.3+ · 1
- VentspilsKp 4+ · 1
- Jēkabpils MunicipalityKp 4.7+ · 1
- Valmiera MunicipalityKp 4+ · 1
- Rēzekne DistrictKp 4.7+ · 1
- Mārupe MunicipalityKp 4.3+ · 1
- Tukums MunicipalityKp 4.3+ · 1
- Cēsis MunicipalityKp 4+ · 1
- Aizkraukle MunicipalityKp 4.3+ · 1
- Talsi MunicipalityKp 4+ · 1
- Salaspils MunicipalityKp 4.3+ · 1
- Sigulda MunicipalityKp 4.3+ · 1
- Ķekava MunicipalityKp 4.3+ · 1
- Bauska MunicipalityKp 4.7+ · 1
- Limbaži MunicipalityKp 4+ · 1
- Ludza DistrictKp 4.3+ · 1
- Dobele MunicipalityKp 4.7+ · 1
- Madona MunicipalityKp 4.3+ · 1
- Saldus MunicipalityKp 4.3+ · 1
- Kuldīga MunicipalityKp 4.3+ · 1
- Preiļi MunicipalityKp 4.7+ · 1
- Olaine MunicipalityKp 4.3+ · 1
- Ropaži MunicipalityKp 4.3+ · 1
- Krāslava MunicipalityKp 4.7+ · 1
- Balvi MunicipalityKp 4.3+ · 1
- Līvāni MunicipalityKp 4.7+ · 1
- Ādaži MunicipalityKp 4.3+ · 1
- Gulbene DistrictKp 4.3+ · 1
- Alūksne MunicipalityKp 4+ · 1
- Smiltene MunicipalityKp 4+ · 1
- Valka MunicipalityKp 4+ · 1
- Saulkrasti MunicipalityKp 4.3+ · 1
- Varakļāni MunicipalityKp 4.7+ · 1
Practical information for Latvia
- Emergency number
- 112
- Access to land
- Latvia has no Nordic-style right to roam: private land may be off-limits without the owner's consent, but state forests managed by LVM (outside protected areas) are open to the public, including overnight stays; nature reserves and strict zones of protected areas are restricted.
- Winter driving
- Winter tyres are mandatory 1 Dec – 1 Mar for vehicles up to 3.5 t, and since 1 Oct 2024 they must carry the 3PMSF (mountain-snowflake) symbol (M+S only no longer qualifies); studded tyres allowed 1 Oct – 1 May. Road conditions: Latvian State Roads (Latvijas Valsts ceļi) driving-conditions map. Road conditions
- Drones
- Latvia applies the EU EASA drone framework (operator registration required for drones of 250 g or more or with a camera); national authority: Civil Aviation Agency, https://www.caa.gov.lv.
- Weather service
- Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre (LVĢMC)
Compiled from official government, road-authority and weather-service sources. Rules change; check them before you travel.
Questions and answers
Can you see the northern lights in Latvia?
In Latvia the aurora needs an active night. It shows up first near Jelgava, from about Kp 4.3.
What Kp do you need to see the aurora in Latvia?
About Kp 4.3: Riga, the largest city, is also one of the easiest places in Latvia to see it.
What is the best month to see the aurora in Latvia?
Near Jelgava, September has historically been the best month (6% of nights were clear, dark and active enough), followed by April (3%).
When was the aurora last visible in Latvia?
The most recent night in our data with enough activity for Jelgava during darkness was 10 October 2026 (Kp 7.0). That has happened on 963 nights since 1995.