Month guide · Prime season
Can you see the northern lights in February?
Long dark nights, a touch milder, often the clearest skies.
The northern lights in February
February keeps January's long, dark nights, but the days are visibly lengthening and the deep cold eases a little. Many chasers rate it the sweet spot of mid-winter: plenty of darkness, more settled high-pressure weather across the Nordic interior, and full winter scenery for reflections and foregrounds.
What about the southern lights?
Still summer in the south — the aurora australis season has not opened yet. The aurora is the same phenomenon in both hemispheres — see where the aurora reaches for the full north-and-south picture.
Best for
Reliable winter darkness with slightly kinder conditions than January. 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