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Iceland · Aurora borealis

Is the aurora visible in Selfoss tonight?

Right now

Maybe — stay ready.

Kp is 0.0. Selfoss needs Kp 2+ for the oval overhead — right now it’s low on the northern horizon.

Tonight's peak is forecast around Kp 4.0 (Active). The forecast still depends on darkness, cloud and the moon at your exact spot.

Reliable about 30 minutes ahead — cloud decides the rest.

Check your exact sky

Selfoss sits right under the auroral oval — it needs roughly Kp 2+ for the northern lights to come into view. Here's tonight's live space weather and how to plan around it.

Come back at 06:42 PM — that’s when the sky goes dark and the aurora could show.

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How to see the aurora from Selfoss

Face north and find a clear, low horizon in that direction. Everything else — dark skies, adapted eyes, the camera trick — is the same anywhere on Earth, so it lives in the how to photograph the aurora guide.

When can you see the northern lights in Selfoss?

Aurora season in Selfoss runs roughly September – March. Here the months that pay off are September, March, and October — the table below shows why. See the full best time to see the aurora guide for the season in detail.

Selfoss by the numbers

Between Sep 1, 2025 and Aug 31, 2026, Selfoss had 296 nights dark enough for the aurora, and the planetary Kp reached the Kp 2+ this place needs on 257 of them. Averaged over 2015–2024 and this location's cloud cover, that works out to about 76 aurora-possible nights a year, most of them in September, March, and October.

MonthDark hours per nightDark nightsAverage cloud coverAurora-possible nights
January16 h3175%7
February13.3 h2879%6
March10.5 h3175%8
April6.8 h3076%8
May1.5 h1776%4
June0079%0
July0877%2
August5.3 h3174%9
September9.3 h3076%9
October12.3 h3176%8
November15.3 h3074%7
December17 h3173%8

Sources: the sun's geometry (dark = at least 6° below the horizon), GFZ Potsdam's Kp index 2015–2024 (CC BY 4.0), ERA5 cloud cover via Open-Meteo (the table shows the monthly mean; the estimate counts days that were not overcast). An estimate for comparing places and months, not a forecast — how we estimate this.

Closer to the oval

Within 400 km, these places need a lower Kp than Selfoss:

Where to watch near Selfoss

Get out of the city lights and find a clear view to the north. These are places near Selfoss that locals and aurora chasers use. Distances and drive times are from the city centre.

  1. Eyrarbakki shore 13 km · about 14 min by car

    A small coastal village south of Selfoss and away from bigger lights. A path runs along the shore to Stokkseyri, with an open view of the Atlantic.

    The open sea view faces south. Selfoss lies to the north-east, so expect some glow on that side of the sky.

    Map

  2. Úlfljótsvatn church 22 km · about 22 min by car

    A rural lakeside church south of Þingvallavatn with few lights around it. A Selfoss-based photographer saw the aurora there around midnight even under bright moonlight.

    A quiet country site, not a managed viewing area.

    Map

  3. Þingvellir National Park (Hakið viewpoint) 49 km · about 52 min by car

    A wide, open rift valley far from town lights. It is easy to reach and to park at, even in deep winter.

    Parking is charged: 1,000 ISK for a car with five or fewer seats.

    Map

Local tips

  • Check the Icelandic Met Office aurora forecast on vedur.is. It shows cloud cover as well as activity, and cloud is usually what decides the night in South Iceland.
  • Visit South Iceland suggests driving 20 to 60 minutes away from town lights to find darker, clearer skies.
  • The aurora is often overhead at this latitude, so on strong nights it can be watched from inside Selfoss itself.
Sources (8), checked 2026-11-07

Plan the trip

Aurora tours & stays near Selfoss

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Some links below are paid affiliate links. If you book a tour, reserve a stay or buy gear through them, we may earn a commission — it never costs you anything extra and helps keep the forecast free.

  • GetYourGuide

    Aurora chasing tours

    Guided minibus & boat tours that drive you to the clearest skies around Reykjavík.

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    Dates pre-filled for tonight

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    Aurora cabins & lodges

    Cabins, lodges and aurora-view stays near Selfoss — settle in and watch the lights.

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  • Discover Cars

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    Self-drive to dark-sky spots away from town glow. Compare every local supplier.

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  • SafetyWing

    Cover the trip

    Travel medical cover for a trip to Selfoss — remote, cold and weather-dependent — from a few dollars a day.

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