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Northern Lights in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
In Northern Ireland the aurora is visible from about Kp 5, first near Derry. Strabane has the darkest skies among the larger places.
Weather in Northern Ireland
General forecast for Derry, the main town in Northern Ireland. Tonight's cloud cover for every town is on its aurora page.
Planning further ahead? See the hour-by-hour weather forecast for Derry on Atlas of Seasons.
| Place | Kp needed | Kp for photos | Look towards | Light pollution | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derry | 5 | 3.3 | N | City sky | 83,652 |
| Coleraine | 5 | 3.3 | N | City sky | 25,681 |
| Limavady | 5 | 3.3 | N | Bright suburban sky | 11,279 |
| Belfast | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Bright suburban sky | 348,005 |
| Lisburn | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Suburban sky | 77,506 |
| Newtownabbey | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Suburban sky | 63,860 |
| Bangor | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Suburban sky | 61,011 |
| Craigavon | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Rural to suburban | 59,236 |
| Castlereagh | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Suburban sky | 56,679 |
| Portadown | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Suburban sky | 32,926 |
| Newtownards | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Suburban sky | 29,363 |
| Carrickfergus | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Rural to suburban | 29,208 |
| Ballymena | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | City sky | 28,932 |
| Omagh | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Rural to suburban | 21,056 |
| Antrim | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Suburban sky | 19,661 |
| Larne | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Bright suburban sky | 18,421 |
| Armagh | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Rural to suburban | 14,801 |
| Enniskillen | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Rural to suburban | 14,472 |
| Strabane | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Dark rural sky | 14,198 |
| Dundonald | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Suburban sky | 13,985 |
| Holywood | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Suburban sky | 13,109 |
| Dungannon | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Dark rural sky | 11,935 |
| Cookstown | 5.3 | 3.7 | N | Rural to suburban | 11,081 |
| Newry | 5.7 | 4 | N | Bright suburban sky | 27,757 |
| Banbridge | 5.7 | 4 | N | Rural to suburban | 16,173 |
| Downpatrick | 5.7 | 4 | N | Rural to suburban | 10,507 |
Best months in Northern Ireland
Share of nights 2005–2025 that were dark, active enough here and mostly clear.
March has been the best month (2% of nights), followed by April (2%).
All years Near solar maximum Near solar minimum
- Kp 0–2 Quiet Only under the auroral oval: northern Norway, Swedish and Finnish Lapland, Iceland, Alaska, northern Canada.
- Kp 3 Unsettled camera in Derry Bright in the Arctic; low on the horizon in central Scandinavia and southern Iceland.
- Kp 4 Active Overhead in the Arctic; low in the north from southern Norway, Sweden, Finland and northern Scotland.
- Kp 5 Minor storm (G1) eye in Derry Scotland, southern Scandinavia, the Baltic states, the northern US states and southern Canada.
- Kp 6 Moderate storm (G2) Northern England, Denmark, northern Germany and Poland, the US Midwest — often clearer in photos than to the eye.
- Kp 7 Strong storm (G3) Most of the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Czechia; red glow in photos from France and the northern Alps.
- 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.
- 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).
The town pages in this region also cover 288 villages and districts nearby.
Smaller places
- AhoghillKp 5.3
- AnnahiltKp 5.3
- AnnalongKp 5.7
- ArdglassKp 5.7
- AughnacloyKp 5.3
- BallinamallardKp 5.3
- Ballintoy HarbourKp 5
- BallycastleKp 5
- BallyclareKp 5.3
- BallygowanKp 5.3
- BallykellyKp 5
- BallymoneyKp 5
- BallynahinchKp 5.3
- BallypatrickKp 5
- BallywalterKp 5.3
- BellaghyKp 5.3
- BroughshaneKp 5.3
- BushmillsKp 5
- CarnloughKp 5
- CarnmoneyKp 5.3
- CarryduffKp 5.3
- CastledawsonKp 5.3
- CastledergKp 5.3
- CastlerockKp 5
- CastlewellanKp 5.7
- CoalislandKp 5.3
- ComberKp 5.3
- ConnorKp 5.3
- CrossgarKp 5.3
- CrossmaglenKp 5.7
- CrumlinKp 5.3
- CullybackeyKp 5.3
- CulmoreKp 5
- CushendallKp 5
- DoaghKp 5.3
- DonaghadeeKp 5.3
- DonaghcloneyKp 5.3
- DraperstownKp 5.3
- DromoreKp 5.3
- DromoreKp 5.3
- DundrumKp 5.7
- DungivenKp 5
- DunloyKp 5
- EglintonKp 5
- FintonaKp 5.3
- FivemiletownKp 5.3
- GarvaghKp 5
- GilfordKp 5.3
- GlenariffKp 5
- GlenavyKp 5.3
- GreenislandKp 5.7
- GreyabbeyKp 5.3
- Royal HillsboroughKp 5.3
- IrvinestownKp 5.3
- JordanstownKp 5.3
- KeadyKp 5.7
- KilkeelKp 5.7
- KillyleaghKp 5.3
- KilreaKp 5
- KircubbinKp 5.3
- LisnaskeaKp 5.7
- MagheraKp 5.3
- MagherafeltKp 5.3
- MagheralinKp 5.3
- MillisleKp 5.3
- MoiraKp 5.3
- MoneymoreKp 5.3
- MoyKp 5.3
- New BuildingsKp 5
- NewcastleKp 5.7
- NewtownhamiltonKp 5.7
- NewtownstewartKp 5.3
- PortaferryKp 5.7
- PortavogieKp 5.3
- PortglenoneKp 5.3
- PortrushKp 5
- PortstewartKp 5
- RandalstownKp 5.3
- RathfrilandKp 5.7
- RostrevorKp 5.7
- SaintfieldKp 5.3
- Sion MillsKp 5.3
- TandrageeKp 5.7
- TemplepatrickKp 5.3
- WaringstownKp 5.3
- WarrenpointKp 5.7
- WhiteheadKp 5.3