Norway · Aurora borealis
Is the aurora visible in Trondheim tonight?
Right now
Maybe — stay ready.
Kp is 0.0. Trondheim needs Kp 3+ 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.
Trondheim sees the aurora on moderately active nights — it needs roughly Kp 3+ for the northern lights to come into view. Here's tonight's live space weather and how to plan around it.
How to see the aurora from Trondheim
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 Trondheim?
Aurora season in Trondheim runs roughly September – March. Here the months that pay off are September, March, and April — the table below shows why. See the full best time to see the aurora guide for the season in detail.
Trondheim by the numbers
Between Sep 1, 2025 and Aug 31, 2026, Trondheim had 300 nights dark enough for the aurora, and the planetary Kp reached the Kp 3+ this place needs on 201 of them. Averaged over 2015–2024 and this location's cloud cover, that works out to about 53 aurora-possible nights a year, most of them in September, March, and April.
| Month | Dark hours per night | Dark nights | Average cloud cover | Aurora-possible nights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 16 h | 31 | 75% | 4 |
| February | 13.3 h | 28 | 74% | 5 |
| March | 10.5 h | 31 | 71% | 7 |
| April | 7 h | 30 | 66% | 7 |
| May | 2.3 h | 17 | 70% | 3 |
| June | 0 | 0 | 73% | 0 |
| July | 0 | 8 | 73% | 1 |
| August | 5.5 h | 31 | 71% | 6 |
| September | 9.3 h | 30 | 73% | 7 |
| October | 12.3 h | 31 | 70% | 6 |
| November | 15.3 h | 30 | 73% | 5 |
| December | 16.8 h | 31 | 80% | 3 |
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 Trondheim:
Where to watch near Trondheim
Get out of the city lights and find a clear view to the north. These are places near Trondheim that locals and aurora chasers use. Distances and drive times are from the city centre.
Korsvika
A beach on the Lade peninsula with an unobstructed view north over the fjord, with the city behind you.
Without a car, take bus 26 to Lilleby and walk about 20 minutes.
MapDjupvika and Ringvebukta (Ladestien)
Two bays on the Lade coastal path that a local aurora guide picks as favourites. They can be very dark and look out over the fjord to the north, west and east.
The bays are about five minutes' walk apart near the Ringve museum, with parking close to Ringvebukta.
MapGråkallen (Bymarka)
At 552 m, a high point in the Bymarka forest west of the city, quick to reach by car and looking over the whole fjord.
There is a ski area near the summit. The view takes in the city, so its lights are part of the scene.
MapVæresholmen
A small point at Ranheim with a clear view north at sea level over the fjord.
Reachable by car, bus, bike or on foot, and wheelchair accessible.
Map
Local tips
- The Trondheimsfjord lies north of the city. Pick a shore spot where the city lights are behind you and the fjord gives an open view north.
- The Norwegian Centre for Space Weather (NOSWE) publishes an aurora nowcast made specifically for Trondheim.
- Visit Trondheim puts the dark season at September to March. At Kp 2 to 3 the aurora is weak here, while Kp 4 and above gives a good chance on a clear night.
The last big one
: A strong geomagnetic storm gave unusually bright aurora over much of Norway, and VG ran photos taken in Trondheim that night.
Plan the trip
Aurora tours & stays near Trondheim
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- Booking.com
Aurora cabins & lodges
Cabins, lodges and aurora-view stays near Trondheim — settle in and watch the lights.
Find stays - Discover Cars
Rent a car to chase clear skies
Self-drive to dark-sky spots away from town glow. Compare every local supplier.
Compare cars - SafetyWing
Cover the trip
Travel medical cover for a trip to Trondheim — remote, cold and weather-dependent — from a few dollars a day.
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