Aurora Borealis in Herne Bay
United Kingdom · 51.37°, 1.13° · geomagnetic 53.0° · needs Kp 7
Tonight's aurora forecast for Herne Bay
1%
Peak chance of a visible display tonight, from the same model the Revon app runs. Herne Bay needs Kp 7 to see anything at all, and tonight the forecast peaks at Kp 4.9. Short of the threshold, which is what most nights look like here.
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Updated 2026-09-08 10:36 UTC
Local aurora guide for Herne Bay
Herne Bay is at a geomagnetic latitude of 53.0°. Auroras are typically visible at this latitude during intense geomagnetic storms, rated Kp 7 or higher.
On average, there are about 2.7 nights per year with conditions suitable 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 Herne Bay are September, August, and November. During these months, the nights are typically dark enough to potentially see auroras.
However, the region experiences periods without full darkness during June and July, which may impact viewing opportunities.
Herne Bay has a Bortle scale rating of 7, indicating significant light pollution. Areas with Bortle 4 conditions, offering darker skies, can be found approximately 16 km to the north-northeast.
The local horizon is characterized by several features including headlands and beaches. Notable points include Cliff End Point to the east, and Central Beach, Warden Point, Westbrook Bay, and Walpole Bay to the west and east.
Geographic features near Herne Bay offer varied horizons. To the east, Cliff End Point is a headland approximately 10.8 km away. Further east are Westbrook Bay and Walpole Bay.
To the west-northwest, Central Beach is a coastal area about 14.8 km from Herne Bay. Warden Point, another headland, is located approximately 15.5 km in the same direction.
Historical data shows 31 verified aurora reports within a 300 km radius of Herne Bay between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2016.
The region experiences an average of 2.7 nights per year suitable for aurora viewing. Qualifying nights in the historical record 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 · Solar declination and hour-angle calculation · Falchi 2016 World Atlas of artificial night sky brightness · GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) · Aurorasaurus verified positive reports
Know when it is worth going outside
Revon watches the Herne Bay 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 Herne Bay.