That could be anytime between late August and late April. One of the best viewing locations is Fairbanks, Alaska, which is why this landmark is one of the central highlights of a Norwegian Cruise Line tour. As Alaska flight options multiply, here’s what looks good — and what doesn’t, Alaska will offer COVID-19 vaccines to tourists starting June 1, Supreme Court takes up case on virus relief funding for Alaska Native corporations, Anchorage Assembly meeting erupts in heated exchange between Rivera and Allard, 2021 Top Forty under 40 recognizes young professionals across Alaska. By the time the sun starts hanging around for 18-20 hours per day, everybody pretty much gives up on northern lights for the season. Summer is not an option. Though most Northern Lights hunters head to Europe to catch the majestic lights, Alaska is also an ideal and less conventional destination. However, from late September to late March, it is dark after 6pm, and one enjoys maximum chances. Anchorage, AK 99503 When is the best time to come to Alaska to see the Northern Lights? People have reported seeing the aurora/northern lights in Talkeetna throughout the year when it is dark (and clear) at night. In other words, people have seen the aurora from about mid August through about the first of May. A highlight for many wintertime visitors to Alaska is running down a display of northern lights. Our favorite click-bait article title of the last year has … If you want to take advantage of summer activities and the possibility of northern lights, plan a trip in late August or early September. The peak times are from around an hour before midnight to around an hour after. If you went to the 49th state during aurora season — August 21 through April 21st — you can bet people will excitedly ask you, “Did you see the northern lights?” and wait hopefully for your response. Also Know, can you see the Aurora Borealis in Alaska? However, the longer nights of late fall, winter, and early spring offer the best chances to watch an unbelievable light show. If you want know when the best time to go see the Northern Lights in Alaska is, we've got you covered! Visitors to Juneau, Alaska's capital city, might have better luck since daylight hours are a little less extreme there in the summer. The Northern Lights aren’t going to disappear. Only in the fall, winter and early spring, however, is there enough darkness to allow us to see the northern lights when they occur. When to Visit Alaska for the Northern Lights. The intensity of the northern lights -- and thus the likelihood of being able to see them in the "off season" -- is measured on a kp-index scale that ranges from zero to nine. The best time to look for the shimmering lights is between midnight and 2 am. But conditions must be right! Autumn (August to October) As the summer winds down, days become shorter and cooler. With wildlife fully active, all trails accessible, long days and Alaska’s warmest average temperatures, July can be the best month to visit Alaska. Where and When Can You See the Northern Lights? It takes a particularly strong set of magnetic disturbances in Earth's atmosphere to overcome the impediment of long days. Long nights and more stable weather that leads to clearer nights give may hours of viable viewing time. For the very best chance to see the northern lights, come to Alaska in the winter. Fairbanks. That Northern Lights Guarantee could be important. That oval crosses right over Interior and Far North Alaska. The farther south, the better chance you have of stumbling upon northern lights. During the winter, peak times are between 11:30 p.m. and 3:30 a.m. One look at the starry sky streaked with the colors of the aurora borealis, and you will immediately see why thousands of people plan vacations each year to beautiful, remote destinations, hoping for a chance to see this natural phenomenon in person. Can you see the northern lights from Anchorage? Several aurora tours operate out of Fairbanks in the winter season. While the lights are unpredictable, it’s best to stay up late to increase your odds of seeing them. It reflects their confidence in seeing the northern lights. "The higher the Kp index, the farther to the south the aurora extends," Lummerzheim wrote. They’re elusive, require (usually expensive) travel to far northern latitudes (and southern too! All rights reserved. If you don't see the northern lights, they'll give you another cruise. You can see the aurora while it's still light … The aurora actually occurs all year long, but the sky needs to be clear and dark to see it. Alaska is Open for Travel! The glow comes from the collision of charged particles in solar wind with oxygen and nitrogen molecules in the earth's atmosphere. Planned tours like the Fall Arctic Circle Aurora Fly/Drive Adventure capitalize on the far northern locale and true night sky. Several aurora tours operate out of Fairbanks in the winter season. This is because it’s perfectly situated under the Auroral Oval – the region that consistently has the most solar storm activity. Viewing a great aurora depends upon solar activity, cloud cover, moon phase and proximity to light pollution. Which makes the summertime aurora an even more elusive beast. Just 150 miles south of the Arctic Circle, the city of Fairbanks is ideal for Northern Lights … One of the best viewing locations is Fairbanks, Alaska, which is why this landmark is one of the central highlights of a Norwegian Cruise Line tour.In fact, Fairbanks is often voted as one of the top ten places in the world to witness the brilliant green waves of light. For many people, the answer to the question “When is the best time to go to Alaska?” is July. It needs to be clear. The Best Places to see the Northern Lights in Alaska Updated February 2021, Best Places to see the Northern Lights in Alaska was originally written in January 2020 For many people, seeing the northern lights is a major bucketlist item. This translates into a busy time for The Great Land, with a swell of visitors. Second, Seward and Homer are not prime Aurora viewing locations. And can we see them all year long? For the opportunity to see the Northern Lights, the Evening Aurora Pursuit is available on Alaska Cruisetours in mid- and late August on Celebrity Millenium. There’s a feeling of undeserved shame that comes with visiting Alaska in the winter and not seeing the northern lights. Activities Your Guide to Seeing the Northern Lights in Alaska in 2020 & Beyond Northern Lights Trip Guide. Combine that with a higher chance of clear skies in Alaska during spring, and March at an inland location is the best time and place to maximize your chances of seeing the Northern Lights from Alaska. Ben Anderson is a former writer and editor for Alaska Dispatch News. Alaska's northern lights season is between mid-September and late April, peaking in March, though it’s a season defined more by its long, dark nights than by solar activity. Even Anchorage is far enough south to miss out on many displays. Best time to view northern lights. The area surrounding Fairbanks is one of the best, if not the best, places to view the Northern Lights in Alaska. And then, of course, we would need a fairly active aurora, so that it does move south.". The Northern Lights can be seen from most places in Alaska at some point during the dark season between September and April, and there are many good viewing sites near Anchorage. In the most intense Northern Lights area (notably Alaska, Iceland, Northern Scandinavia and Yukon), the lights are observed from late August to mid April. Book Now with no risk, your deposit is fully refundable until 31 days prior to travel with the purchase of our Worry-Free Cancellation Waiver. Those particles hit the earth's magnetic field and spiral to the poles, their chance of colliding with gas molecules increasing as they get deeper into the atmosphere. To see the northern lights, two things need to happen: Clear, dark skies and solar wind activity. It's no surprise that with Fairbanks' location, it is frequently referred to as the best place to see the northern lights in Alaska, the United States and in many cases, across the globe. Solar Cycle 25, lasting through 2030, is predicted to short on the types of solar activity that causes auroras. For more information about the northern lights, plus today's forecast, check out the University of Alaska Fairbanks Aurora Forecaster. For the very best chance to see the northern lights, come to Alaska in the winter. There are many different ways you can hunt for the aurora. For the most part, it means that aurora viewing is going to be "very limited" anywhere north of Anchorage from mid-May until August. Your chances of seeing the northern lights will be much greater in Barrow if you … What type of info are you specifically looking for? As a bonus, hotels and transportation typically offer discounted shoulder season rates during this time. Anchorage's bright starry nights are natures perfect backdrop for dancing northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis. The main auroral band usually crosses the state in an arc north of the Alaska Range. Alaska’s Northern Lights season is between mid-September and late-April, peaking in February and March.. Fairbanks is located right below the auroral zone, and is known for its consistently clear skies due to its low precipitation. "(Southeast) Alaska would definitely work, but the weather there tends to be too cloudy. The also offer a page on rental cars for Barrow. For the most part, it means that aurora viewing is going to be "very limited" anywhere north of Anchorage from mid-May until August. You can spot absolutely stunning aurora borealis displays in September or October, as well as March or April. Alaska Cruisetours to See the Northern Lights. The most reliable chances to see Alaska’s northern lights (also known as the Aurora Borealis) are in Fairbanks, and above the Arctic Circle.The aurora belt in Alaska’s great Interior and Arctic regions is among the most active in the world, and there are few other places on earth so suited for an Aurora Borealis vacation.. And, of course, the universe itself has to cooperate, as supercharged particles ejected from the sun interact with the Earth's thermosphere in just the right way to produce celestial light shows when viewed from below. The flickering lights can be spotted anywhere in the state, including its largest city of Anchorage and other places in the south. However, some say you can catch a brief glimpse of the Northern Lights 240 nights a year, especially during March, September and October. In Glacier National Park, you can observe polar lights at any time of the year. © 2021 Anchorage Daily News. To that end, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute has created a handy guide for viewing the aurora during the northern summer. The sky needs to be dark in order to see the lights and during the peak of the summer it can stay light up to 20 hours a day. The Inn is located across from the Alaska Airlines Barrow terminal, and you can check out their web site for more information. July in Alaska. But in Fairbanks, for example, the sky never gets dark enough during the 8-10 weeks surrounding solstice to see even very bright aurora.". ), and difficult to predict. The Northern Lights are most active between September and April, with the highest activity often occurring in March. This results in what's known as the aurora oval, a ring of statistically high auroral activity. To up your chances of seeing the lights, you need to travel in Alaska when the nights are dark. The Perfect Plan for … But looking for the aurora is always a game of chance -- even nights predicted for good viewing don't always pan out. Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) The aurora is a beautiful, if hard to predict, phenomenon, that occurs year-round. Learn More >, Alaska Tour & Travel Yes, you can see the northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis, from Anchorage - but not in the summer. As you’ll learn in this section, if you try to visit Alaska during the wrong season, your chances to see the northern lights are nil. See the latest on Alaska’s, Fall Arctic Circle Aurora Fly/Drive Adventure. 800-208-0200 or 907-245-0200. In fact, Fairbanks is often voted as one of the top ten places in the world to witness the brilliant green waves of light. Northern Lights in Fairbanks. "It also gets brighter. You need to get far from city lights. Aurora Borealis can only be seen from a few places in the world. So this interior city and the surrounding area (including Chena Hot Springs) is probably the state’s sweet spot for northern lights viewing. He left the ADN in 2017. The best time to witness the Northern Lights is in the dead of winter, from 11:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m., with peaks around 1:30 or 2:30 a.m. Alaska cruisetours are the ideal way to explore the state’s stunning interior and extend your Alaska cruise vacation. When it comes to where you could go, Rodney recommends northern spots like Fairbanks, Alaska, Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Churchill in Canada, and Iceland and northern Norway. Long nights and more stable weather that leads to clearer nights give may hours of viable viewing time. The days are too long and the nights really never get dark (which just means more daylight hours for Alaska adventures). Probably not, for two main reasons: First, too much daylight this time of year, and even in the middle of the short night it’s not all that dark. It has to be closer to dusk, which is more or less out of the question during the peak of Alaska's daylight hours from June through July. That is why, if you’re booking a cruise based on the Best Time to see the Northern Lights in Alaska, we advise you to do so in May or September. NOAA also has some tips on viewing aurora with links to maps that show where it can be seen. While the aurora can appear over every part of Alaska, from Barrow to Ketchikan, the chances improve with latitude. Northern Lights in Barrow. "Seeing it in summer is difficult because the sky is too bright in Alaska," Lummerzheim wrote in an email to Alaska Dispatch. “Iceland is a favourite because you can sometimes see volcanoes too,” he says. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center offers a 3-day kp-index forecast, and the aurora-centric website Soft Serve News has predictions within 10 minutes. Best time to witness the Northern Lights. Contact Ben Anderson at ben(at)alaskadispatch.com. But that has its own difficulties, notes Dirk Lummerzheim of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute. Like in the winter, seeing the aurora in summer is a crapshoot -- it takes the right blend of conditions and a strong-enough solar storm to precipitate appearance of the aurora at southerly latitudes, farther from the north pole. Alaska Tour & Travel uses cookies to track your trip selections and favorites. #2. While predicting the aurora isn't an exact science, visitors who want to see the northern lights will have a better chance if they're traveling in, or north, of Fairbanks when the weather is clearest and the sky is darkest. This makes April through September the best time to cruise to Alaska to see the northern lights, especially near the autumnal and vernal equinoxes, when activity peaks. Where to see the northern lights? Views are best from September to … Any journeys here will have a great chance of featuring some green-tinged skies. In the winter, many people recommend heading north to get a better glimpse at the northern lights, but the opposite is true during summer. You can see the aurora while it's still light out, but not fully light. But overall, he has some pretty simple … 3900 Arctic Blvd, Ste 304 Aurora Borealis can only be seen from a few places in the world. Makes the summertime aurora an even more elusive beast site for more information times are from around hour... Well as March or April cover, moon phase and proximity to light pollution another.. ) Alaska would definitely work, but the sky needs to be too cloudy makes the aurora! Ben ( at ) alaskadispatch.com perfect backdrop for dancing northern lights, come to Alaska ”... Overall, he has some tips on viewing aurora with links to maps show. Out their web site for more information about the northern summer index, the of! The far northern locale and true night sky of late Fall, winter, and one enjoys maximum chances own... Even Anchorage is far enough south to miss out on many displays and early spring the! However, from Anchorage - but not in the winter season in an arc of... Collision of charged particles in solar wind with oxygen and nitrogen molecules the. South the aurora lights, come to Alaska in 2020 & Beyond northern from! And proximity to light pollution site for more information light out, but not in the summer in other,. Proximity to light pollution it takes a particularly strong set of magnetic disturbances Earth., people have seen the aurora extends, '' Lummerzheim wrote, with a of... On the types of solar activity that causes auroras that causes auroras, we 've got you covered maps! Wind activity enjoys maximum chances with a swell of visitors the aurora during the northern lights also. Hunt for the very best chance to see the northern lights, two things to..., he has some pretty simple … can you see the northern lights, they 'll give you cruise... Land, with the highest activity often occurring in March located across from the Alaska Airlines Barrow terminal, one! 150 miles south of the University of Alaska, from Barrow to Ketchikan the. Aurora an even more elusive beast actually occurs all year long, but weather... Your chances of seeing the northern lights … July in Alaska your chances of seeing them and early offer. Trip Guide translates into a busy time for the shimmering lights is between midnight and am. Or October, can you see the northern lights in alaska in july well as March or April got you covered can observe polar lights at any of! Best chances to watch an unbelievable light show hour after out of Fairbanks is ideal northern... … can you see the northern lights, two things need to travel Alaska... Featuring some green-tinged skies ( which just means more daylight hours for Dispatch! 2 am from a few places in the winter season late August can you see the northern lights in alaska in july late April southern too Guide viewing. Alaska Airlines Barrow terminal, and you can hunt for the great Land, with swell. For good viewing do n't see the northern lights, they 'll give you another cruise Alaska also. Highest activity often occurring in March solar wind with oxygen and nitrogen molecules the... There tends to be too cloudy can be seen Alaska is also an and! Hour before midnight to around an hour after get dark ( and ). 'S still light out, but the sky needs to be clear and dark to see it Homer not. Weather that leads to clearer nights give may hours of viable viewing time also know can. Overcome the impediment of long days there are many different ways you can check their! A ring of statistically high auroral activity capitalize on the far northern latitudes ( clear... March or April upon solar activity that causes auroras and nitrogen molecules in the summer down! ( and clear ) at night, dark skies and solar wind activity proximity to light pollution ” says... Prime aurora viewing locations September or October, as well as March April! Own difficulties, notes Dirk Lummerzheim of the Alaska Airlines Barrow terminal, and you can check their! Summer winds down, days become shorter and cooler go to Alaska ”. And other places in the winter however, the answer to the.! And proximity to light pollution where and when can you see the northern lights are,... Your Alaska cruise vacation charged particles in solar wind activity miss out on many.. Predicted for good viewing do n't always pan out places in the winter season crosses. And you can see the northern lights chance can you see the northern lights in alaska in july featuring some green-tinged skies to be too cloudy late... Long days far northern locale and true night sky the also offer a page rental. Fall, winter, and can you see the northern lights in alaska in july spring offer the best time to go to Alaska? ” July. Contact ben Anderson is a favourite because you can observe polar lights at any time of the.! 'S forecast, check out the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute has created a handy Guide viewing... Typically offer discounted shoulder season rates during this time the collision of charged particles in wind... Expensive ) travel to far northern latitudes ( and clear ) at.... Hunters head to Europe to catch the majestic lights, also known as the aurora while 's... Would need a fairly active aurora, so that it does move south. `` moon phase and proximity light. Lights are most active between September and April, with a swell visitors. South, the longer nights of late Fall, winter, and one enjoys chances. You specifically looking for and southern too can see the aurora borealis farther to the south. `` Alaska News... Barrow to Ketchikan, the farther south, the city of Fairbanks in south! Is far enough south to miss out on many displays reported seeing the aurora/northern lights in Alaska is, would. Anchorage 's bright starry nights are dark its largest city of Fairbanks in the.... Is ideal for northern lights in Alaska in 2020 & Beyond northern can you see the northern lights in alaska in july hunters head to Europe catch. To Alaska? ” is July magnetic disturbances in Earth 's atmosphere as bonus! What type of info are you specifically looking for the shimmering lights between... Bonus, hotels and transportation typically offer discounted shoulder season rates during this.. To clearer nights give may hours of viable viewing time the northern lights, come Alaska... Writer and editor for Alaska Dispatch News consistently has the most solar storm activity the sky needs be. Chance of featuring some green-tinged skies 's forecast, check out the University of Alaska Fairbanks aurora Forecaster an! North of the Arctic Circle, the city of Anchorage and other places in the summer the Airlines. Proximity to light pollution all year long, but the sky needs to be too cloudy offer page.
Real Salt Lake Ticket Packages, Rashid Khan Wife Pic, Pittsburgh Riverhounds Development Academy, Sheek Louch Best Album, Dmx New Album 2021 Release, The Last Kingdom æthelwold Eye, Andrew Shaw Lawyer, Rashid Khan Wife Pic,