Forecast basis: NOAA SWPC's 27-day outlook (issued 19 Oct), which runs to 14 November, and observed Kp for October. Dates after 14 November are our own projection, one solar rotation on from what happened in late October, and are marked as such. NOAA updates its outlook every Monday, and we'll update this forecast as it does.
- 31 Oct–1 Nov: Kp 5 (G1) forecast from a recurring coronal hole stream. The moon rises late evening. Details in our Halloween aurora forecast.
- 8–10 Nov: the new moon (9 Nov) with Kp up to 4 forecast. The darkest, most reliable window for high-latitude trips.
- 17–19 Nov: a recurrence watch, one rotation after Kp 4.67 on 21 October. The Leonid meteor shower peaks around the same time.
- 27–28 Nov: the Halloween stream may return again, but the moon is bright, just after full moon on 24 November.
November is the start of the deep aurora season. Nights in the Arctic get very long, polar night begins in Tromsø in late November, and the post-equinox boost to geomagnetic activity hasn't fully faded yet. The trade-off is weather: November is often cloudy along the coasts of Norway and Iceland, so flexibility matters more than ever. (More on the seasons in our guide to the best time to see the northern lights.)
What's driving aurora activity in November 2026?
The sun is in the declining phase of Solar Cycle 25. Sunspot numbers are lower than at the 2024 peak, but this phase is known for long-lived coronal holes whose fast solar wind returns every 27 days. October showed that clearly:
- A recurring stream: a G2 storm on 4 October (Kp 5.67), with Kp 5 forecast again on 31 October and 1 November, exactly one rotation later. If it holds, it could come round a third time around 27–28 November.
- A second, weaker stream: active conditions on 21–23 October (Kp up to 4.67), which may repeat around 17–19 November.
- Eruptions: the strongest storm of October, G3 on 10 October, came from coronal mass ejections (CMEs). These can't be forecast more than a few days ahead, so any of November's quiet days could still be interrupted. See northern lights in 2026 and 2027 for why big storms keep coming after solar maximum.
November 2026 aurora forecast, day by day
Solid bars are NOAA's 27-day outlook. Dashed bars show what happened (or was forecast) one solar rotation earlier, which is the best guide we have for late November. The dashed line marks Kp 5, the threshold for a G1 storm.
| Dates | Expected activity | Moon | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Nov | Kp 5 (G1), the end of the Halloween stream | Last quarter, rises around midnight | Good, evening |
| 2–7 Nov | Kp 2–3, quiet to unsettled | Waning crescent | High latitudes, dark mornings |
| 8–10 Nov | Kp up to 4 on 9 Nov | New moon 9 Nov | Excellent for high latitudes |
| 11–14 Nov | Kp 2–3 | Waxing crescent, sets early | High latitudes, dark skies |
| 17–19 Nov | Recurrence watch: Kp 4–5 possible | First quarter 17 Nov, sets around midnight | Worth watching, after moonset |
| 20–26 Nov | Mostly quiet if the pattern holds | Full moon 24 Nov | Bright nights |
| 27–28 Nov | Recurrence watch: Kp 5 possible | Waning gibbous | Worth watching, early evening |
Dates are UTC. 1–14 November from NOAA's 27-day outlook. Later dates are a 27-day recurrence projection and will change as NOAA's weekly outlooks extend into late November.
Best days to see the northern lights in November 2026
31 October–1 November: the Halloween storm
NOAA's outlook expects Kp 5 on both days, from the coronal hole that caused October's G2 storm. The waning moon rises late in the evening, so the early evening is darkest. In North America, clocks go back on 1 November, which gives an extra hour of night. Everything you need is in our Halloween aurora forecast.
8–10 November: the new moon window
The new moon falls on 9 November, and NOAA forecasts Kp 4 that day, the most active day of the month's first half outside the Halloween storm. That's not a storm, but under the auroral oval, Kp 3–4 regularly produces bright, moving displays, and with no moonlight at all, faint structure and color show up far better. If you're planning a trip to Lapland, Tromsø, Iceland or Fairbanks, this is the week to aim for.
17–19 November: a recurring stream and the Leonids
One rotation ago, on 21–23 October, a weaker coronal hole stream lifted Kp to 4.67. If it returns, expect active conditions around 17–19 November, with a chance of G1. The first quarter moon on 17 November sets around midnight, leaving dark skies after that, which is also the best time for the Leonid meteor shower, peaking around 17 November. Aurora and meteors in the same sky is a good reason to stay up.
27–28 November: the Halloween stream, round three
If the coronal hole behind the 4 October and Halloween storms survives another rotation, it faces Earth again around 27–28 November. The catch is the moon, three to four days past full and rising in the evening. A G1 storm will still stand out, especially if you face north with the moon behind you.
Moon phases in November 2026
| Phase | Date (UTC) | What it means for the aurora |
|---|---|---|
| Last quarter | 1 November | The moon rises around midnight, leaving dark evenings for the Halloween storm. |
| New moon | 9 November | The darkest skies of the month, roughly 5–13 November. |
| First quarter | 17 November | The moon sets around midnight, leaving dark skies in the early morning hours. |
| Full moon | 24 November | Bright all night. Only strong displays stand out, though snowy, moonlit landscapes photograph beautifully. |
Moonrise and moonset times vary with latitude. Check a local almanac. More in moonlight and light pollution.
Where to see the northern lights in November 2026
- Tromsø and Lofoten, Norway: right under the oval, with polar night starting in Tromsø in late November. Coastal cloud is common, so be ready to drive inland toward the Finnish or Swedish border.
- Abisko, Sweden and Finnish Lapland: inland, drier and often clearer. Snow usually arrives this month, which makes for brighter foregrounds in photos.
- Iceland: long nights and easy access, but changeable weather. Use the Icelandic Met Office cloud forecast and stay mobile.
- Fairbanks, Alaska and Yellowknife, Canada: some of the most reliable viewing anywhere, thanks to clear, cold continental air.
- Scotland, southern Scandinavia and the northern US: realistic during the Kp 5 windows (31 Oct–1 Nov, and possibly 17–19 and 27–28 Nov). Look low toward the northern horizon, away from town lights.
More on destinations in the best places to see the northern lights.
Tips for November aurora hunting
- Mind the clock change. North America moves clocks back on 1 November (Europe already did on 25 October), so peak aurora hours shift an hour earlier on the clock.
- Set up alerts. With storms possible on short notice, an alert that checks your local cloud and darkness saves a lot of standing around. See how to get northern lights alerts on your phone.
- Watch Bz on the night. Coronal hole streams produce their best displays when Bz turns south. Real-time solar wind gives about 30–60 minutes' warning. See reading the Kp index.
- Keep batteries warm. Cold drains phone and camera batteries fast. Swap them between an inside pocket and the camera.
- Bring a camera, even a phone. Start with our iPhone and Samsung settings or aurora photography basics.
How reliable is this forecast?
The first half of the month comes straight from NOAA's 27-day outlook, which is built largely on the 27-day solar rotation. That works well for recurring coronal hole streams, but they change from one rotation to the next. October showed this: NOAA forecast Kp 5 for 21–22 October, and the real peak was Kp 4.67, close but not quite a storm.
The second half of the month is our own projection, using the same logic one rotation further on. It's useful for planning, but treat it as a list of dates to watch rather than a forecast. And none of it accounts for CMEs, which can only be forecast one to three days ahead. Check the 3-day forecast and live solar wind data before each night out.
Frequently asked questions
Will there be northern lights in November 2026?
Yes. NOAA forecasts a G1 storm on 1 November and active conditions around the new moon on 9 November. Under the auroral oval, aurora is likely on most clear, dark nights.
What is the best night to see the northern lights in November 2026?
For dark skies, 8–10 November around the new moon. For stronger activity, 31 October to 1 November. Recurring streams may return around 17–19 and 27–28 November.
When is the new moon in November 2026?
9 November, around 07:00 UTC. The full moon is on 24 November.
Is November a good month for the northern lights?
Yes. Nights are long, activity is still boosted after the equinox, and snow makes great foregrounds. Cloud is the main obstacle, so stay flexible.
The bottom line
November 2026 starts strong with a G1 storm forecast for 1 November, offers its darkest skies around the 9 November new moon, and has two recurring-stream dates to watch later in the month. Pick a dark spot, check the forecast each afternoon, and give yourself a few nights. Under cloud? The live aurora webcams show what's happening in Lapland, Iceland and Alaska right now. We'll update this forecast as NOAA's weekly outlooks come in.
References
- NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, 27-day outlook, issued 2026-10-19.
- NOAA SWPC, 3-day forecast, issued 2026-10-24 12:30 UTC.
- NOAA SWPC, Daily geomagnetic indices (observed Kp, October 2026).
- Catalina Sky Survey / University of Arizona, Moon phases, November 2026.
- NASA Science, Leonids.