Aurora Borealis in Gatineau
Canada · 45.48°, -75.70° · geomagnetic 54.8° · needs Kp 7
Tonight's aurora forecast for Gatineau
3%
Peak chance of a visible display tonight, from the same model the Revon app runs. Gatineau needs Kp 7 to see anything at all, and tonight the forecast peaks at Kp 5.0. Short of the threshold, which is what most nights look like here.
Get the full 30-night forecast in Revon
Updated 2026-09-08 10:35 UTC
Local aurora guide for Gatineau
Gatineau is located at 54.8° geomagnetic latitude. Auroras are typically visible at this latitude during periods of high geomagnetic activity, specifically when the Kp index reaches 7 or higher.
With an average of 3.2 viable nights per year, patience is key for aurora viewing in this region. The historical record spans from April 2, 2016, to March 30, 2026.
The best months for aurora viewing in Gatineau are May, August, and September. These months offer a good balance of darkness and potential aurora activity.
Gatineau experiences a Bortle 6 sky, indicating moderate light pollution. For darker skies, consider traveling approximately 31 km north to areas near Val-des-Monts, which have a Bortle 4 rating.
The surrounding landscape includes features such as Île Marguerite, Lac Beauchamp, Île Chelsea, Baie du Fer à Cheval, and Baie McLaurin, which may offer varied viewing perspectives.
Geographic features near Gatineau include Île Marguerite, a small island located to the west-north-west. Lac Beauchamp, a lake to the east-north-east, and Île Chelsea, another island to the west-north-west, are also nearby.
Further west-north-west is Baie du Fer à Cheval, a bay, and to the east is Baie McLaurin, a lake. These locations offer diverse geographical contexts for observing the night sky.
Between April 2, 2016, and March 30, 2026, there were 3.2 viable aurora nights per year on average. The historical record spans this period.
Notable qualifying nights within this timeframe include March 20, 2026 (Kp 7.0), January 20, 2026 (Kp 7.67), January 19, 2026 (Kp 8.67), November 12, 2025 (Kp 7.33), and November 11, 2025 (Kp 8.67).
Sources: Revon analysis of NOAA planetary Kp · Falchi 2016 World Atlas of artificial night sky brightness · GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)
Know when it is worth going outside
Revon watches the Gatineau forecast and pushes an alert when the odds for tonight clear your threshold — no checking, no guessing.
Nearby towns
Forecasts for places within reach of Gatineau.