AuroraMeteo

Alytus County, LithuaniaMagnetic latitude 50.5°Population 12,05597 m above sea level

Can you see the northern lights in Druskininkai?

From Druskininkai the aurora is seen only during geomagnetic storms (about Kp 6 or more), usually as a glow low in the north. Cameras often pick it up before the eye does. Since 1995 that level (Kp 6) was reached during darkness here on 217 nights.

Right now

It is still light here. Darkness starts at 19:41.

Kp 0.7 · 444 km/s · Bz -4.8

Updates every minute while this page is open.

Tonight in one minute

Not tonight

  • Solar activity Too weak: Kp 2.7 expected, 6 needed here.
  • Sky Overcast (93% cloud).
  • Darkness Dark from 19:41 to 06:38.

What to do: Not tonight — your next chance is shown just below.

Tonight

Updated 17:30 local time

0/100

Unlikely

Best around 19:00. Forecast max Kp 2.7 (this place needs 6), average cloud 93%.

Dark enough
19:41 – 06:38
Sunset
18:24 · sunrise 07:55
Moon
31% · ↑ 14:48 · ↓ 20:48
Kp neededKp index: a 0–9 measure of geomagnetic activity. The higher it is, the further from the poles the aurora reaches.
Kp 6
Kp for photos
In photos: from Kp 4.3 (a red glow low in the north).
Look towards
north (0°)
Sat 17 Oct0Kp 1.7 · cloud 85%
Sun 18 Oct0Kp 1.7 · cloud 100%
18Sat 17061218Sun 18061218Mon 190612
Chance (0–100) Dark enough Cloud cover

Score = activity (NOAA Kp and OVATION) × clear sky (MET Norway) × darkness × moonlight. Methodology

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What you would see from Druskininkai

Facing north. Bands show where the aurora sits at two activity levels.

10°20°30°45° Kp 8 · overheadKp 6 · 11°–22° WNW 300° NW 315° NNW 330° NNW 345° N 0° NNE 15° NNE 30° NE 45° ENE 60°
Computed from the auroral oval position for each Kp level (lower border ~105 km, ray tops ~200 km up). Horizon from elevation data out to 30 km.
KpWhat you seeLower edgeRay topsDistance to the aurora
2 Below the horizon -2° 2° 1,334 km
3 Below the horizon 0° 5° 1,112 km
4 Below the horizon 3° 8° 890 km
5 Faint glow, mostly on camera 6° 13° 667 km
6 Visible to the north 11° 22° 445 km
7 Visible to the north 24° 41° 222 km
8 Overhead and all around – – –
9 Overhead and all around – – –
Angles above the horizon. Terrain in the look direction is taken into account where modelled.

The Kp scale in plain words

Kp is a 0–9 score for how strongly the Earth's magnetic field is being shaken by the solar wind. The higher it goes, the further from the poles the northern lights reach. Kp 0–2 is a quiet night; Kp 5 and above is a geomagnetic storm.

  1. Kp 0–2 Quiet Only under the auroral oval: northern Norway, Swedish and Finnish Lapland, Iceland, Alaska, northern Canada.
  2. Kp 3 Unsettled next 24 h Bright in the Arctic; low on the horizon in central Scandinavia and southern Iceland.
  3. Kp 4 Active camera in Druskininkai Overhead in the Arctic; low in the north from southern Norway, Sweden, Finland and northern Scotland.
  4. Kp 5 Minor storm (G1) Scotland, southern Scandinavia, the Baltic states, the northern US states and southern Canada.
  5. Kp 6 Moderate storm (G2) eye in Druskininkai Northern England, Denmark, northern Germany and Poland, the US Midwest — often clearer in photos than to the eye.
  6. Kp 7 Strong storm (G3) Most of the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Czechia; red glow in photos from France and the northern Alps.
  7. Kp 8 Severe storm (G4) Central Europe to the eye; red sky in photos from northern Italy, Spain, the Balkans and Turkey's Black Sea coast.
  8. Kp 9 Extreme storm (G5) Seen across Europe and the US; in photos as far south as the Mediterranean, Turkey and North Africa (May 2024).

Light pollution

Bright suburban sky. Strong sky glow washes out faint aurora. Head out of town for anything but a bright display.

A noticeably darker area starts about 5 km to the east-south-east. Open in OpenStreetMap

Estimate from NASA VIIRS night-light data (sky-glow model within 50 km). Check access and private land before you go.

Hills and mountains

The horizon towards the north is open (terrain below 0.5°), so low aurora is not blocked.

From elevation data (AWS Terrain Tiles) along seven lines of sight up to 30 km.

Best months to see the aurora in Druskininkai

Share of nights 2005–2025 that were dark, active enough here and mostly clear.

September has been the best month (1% of nights), followed by August (1%).

0%10% July: 0% Jul August: 1% Aug September: 1% Sept October: 1% Oct November: 0% Nov December: 0% Dec January: 0% Jan February: 0% Feb March: 1% Mar April: 0% Apr May: 1% May June: 1% Jun
All years Near solar maximum Near solar minimum
MonthGood nightsClear nightsDarknessLow / high
September 1% 58% 8.5 h 9° / 19°C
October 0.8% 39% 10.8 h 4° / 12°C
November 0.2% 18% 12.5 h 0° / 5°C
December 0.2% 13% 13.5 h -4° / 0°C
January 0% 12% 13.0 h -8° / -2°C
February 0% 13% 11.4 h -7° / -1°C
March 0.8% 29% 9.5 h -3° / 6°C
April 0.3% 53% 6.9 h 2° / 13°C
Good night = darkness + activity at this place's Kp level + night-time satellite cloud ≤ 70%. GFZ Kp, NASA POWER (CERES), 1° grid. Methodology
4%chance of ≥1 good night in 3 nights (September)
7%chance of ≥1 good night in 5 nights (September)
9%chance of ≥1 good night in 7 nights (September)

Aurora nights in Druskininkai since 1995

Nights when Kp reached 6 or more while it was dark here.

2013: 21322014: 31432015: 91592016: 61662017: 51752018: 11812021: 12112022: 22222023: 52352024: 1424142025: 1425142026: 8268
Per year, last 12 years. Cloud cover not included. Source: GFZ Kp.

Most recent strong nights

Practical information

Nearest airport
Kaunas International Airport (KUN) · 106 km
Typical low / high in September
9° / 19°C
What to wear
Cool nights: layers, a windproof jacket, hat and gloves for standing still outside. Full clothing guide
Emergency number
112
Winter driving
From 10 Nov summer tyres are prohibited: vehicles up to 3.5 t need winter (studded or non-studded) or all-season tyres until 31 Mar; studded tyres must be removed by 10 Apr. Road conditions: eismoinfo.lt, the state road agency's traffic and road-weather map. Road conditions
Weather service
Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service (LHMT)

Questions and answers

What Kp do you need to see the aurora in Druskininkai?

From Druskininkai the aurora is seen only during geomagnetic storms (about Kp 6 or more), usually as a glow low in the north. Cameras often pick it up before the eye does.

Which way should I look for the aurora in Druskininkai?

Face north (about 0° from true north). At Kp 6 the lower edge of the aurora sits roughly 11° above the horizon; stronger activity lifts it higher and further across the sky.

What is the best month to see the aurora in Druskininkai?

Over 2005–2025, September gave the best odds in Druskininkai (1% of nights dark, active enough and mostly clear), followed by August (1%).

When is the aurora season in Druskininkai?

Druskininkai gets dark enough for the aurora all year round, though the long winter nights give the most hours to watch.

Is there much light pollution in Druskininkai?

Strong sky glow washes out faint aurora. Head out of town for anything but a bright display. A noticeably darker area starts about 5 km to the east-south-east.

When was the aurora last possible in Druskininkai?

The most recent night in our data when activity reached the level Druskininkai needs, during darkness, was 10 October 2026 (Kp 7.0). It has happened on 217 nights since 1995.

Also covered by this forecast

Villages and districts around Druskininkai share its forecast: within a few kilometres the sky, the Kp needed and the best direction are the same.