Aurora Borealis in Westhoughton
United Kingdom · 53.55°, -2.52° · geomagnetic 55.7° · needs Kp 7
Tonight's aurora forecast for Westhoughton
9%
Peak chance of a visible display tonight, from the same model the Revon app runs. Westhoughton 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.
Get the full 30-night forecast in Revon
Updated 2026-09-08 10:35 UTC
Local aurora guide for Westhoughton
Westhoughton is at 55.7° geomagnetic latitude. Auroras are typically visible at this latitude during periods of high geomagnetic activity, specifically when the Kp index reaches 7.
On average, there are about 2.7 nights per year when conditions are 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 Westhoughton are September, August, and November. These months offer a good balance of darkness and potential aurora activity.
However, from May to July, the region experiences periods without full darkness, which can impact viewing opportunities.
Westhoughton experiences a Bortle 7 sky, indicating significant light pollution. For darker skies, areas like Ribble Valley, approximately 50 km to the north, offer Bortle 4 conditions.
The horizon to the east is marked by the hill known as Top o' Cow, 4.2 km away. To the west-north-west, 5.6 km away, is another hill near Haigh. The Island, an island feature, is 11.2 km to the north.
East of Westhoughton, the terrain includes the hill named Top o' Cow, situated 4.2 km away. Further north-east, 16.6 km from Westhoughton, lies Harcles Hill, a peak.
To the west-north-west, 5.6 km away, is a hill near Haigh. North of Westhoughton, 11.2 km distant, is a feature known as The Island.
In the north-east direction, 17.1 km away, is Bull Hill, classified as a mountain.
Between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2016, there were 227 verified aurora reports within a 300 km radius of Westhoughton.
Notable qualifying nights with high geomagnetic activity (Kp 7.0 or higher) occurred on March 20, 2026; January 20, 2026; January 19, 2026; November 12, 2025; and November 11, 2025.
Sources: Revon location dataset · 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 Westhoughton 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 Westhoughton.