Month guide · Shoulder season
Can you see the northern lights in August?
The northern season reopens — late August, the nights return.
The northern lights in August
Through August the darkness creeps back to the far north. The first half is still too light, but by the last week or two the Arctic nights are dark enough for the season's first displays — paired with mild, late-summer weather, the first autumn colour, and open, un-frozen water for mirror reflections.
What about the southern lights?
Still good in the south, with winter darkness holding through the month. The aurora is the same phenomenon in both hemispheres — see where the aurora reaches for the full north-and-south picture.
Best for
Early-season viewing in mild conditions at the very end of the month. For the day-by-day odds anywhere on Earth, use the live forecast; for the bigger seasonal picture, see the best time to see the northern lights.
Plan the trip
Tours, stays and wheels
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.
- Klook
Aurora chasing tours
Guided minibus & boat tours worldwide that drive you to the clearest, darkest skies on the night.
See tonight's tours - Booking.com
Glass igloos & aurora cabins
Heated glass-roof rooms across Lapland, Iceland and the Arctic — watch the lights from bed.
Find stays - Discover Cars
Rent a car to chase clear skies
Self-drive away from town glow to the dark-sky spots. Compare every local supplier in one place.
Compare cars - SafetyWing
Cover the trip
Aurora trips are remote, cold and weather-dependent — travel medical cover from a few dollars a day.
Get covered