Aurora Borealis in York
United Kingdom · 53.96°, -1.08° · geomagnetic 55.9° · needs Kp 7
Tonight's aurora forecast for York
10%
Peak chance of a visible display tonight, from the same model the Revon app runs. York 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 York
York is at a geomagnetic latitude of 55.9°, which is favorable for aurora viewing.
Auroras are typically visible here when the geomagnetic activity reaches Kp 7.
On average, there are about 2.6 nights per year with conditions suitable for aurora viewing.
The best months for aurora viewing in York are September, August, and November.
During May, June, and July, there is not enough full darkness for optimal viewing conditions.
York has a Bortle scale rating of 5, indicating moderate light pollution.
Areas with darker skies, rated Bortle 4, can be found approximately 39 km north-north-east near North Yorkshire.
Within 7 km north-east of York, there are also areas rated Bortle 5.
The Island, located 13.3 km north-west of York, offers a potential viewing spot.
High Stittenham, a hill 18.0 km north-north-east of York, is another area.
East Fields, a hill 18.6 km north-east of York, and Cherry Islands, an island 23.3 km north-east of York, are also noted.
Between 2016 and 2026, there were approximately 2.6 nights per year suitable for aurora viewing.
Verified reports show 207 sightings within 300 km of York between 2015 and 2016.
Notable recent qualifying nights include March 20, 2026 (Kp 7.0), January 20, 2026 (Kp 7.67), and January 19, 2026 (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
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Nearby towns
Forecasts for places within reach of York.