Free email alerts for New Zealand aurora conditions.
Aurora levels are currently low.
Important notice: Free Aurora Alerts will shut down on 25 Feb, 2026. However, I've created a new site which offers a wider range of stargazing forecasts and aurora alerts. The new site also takes into account moon phases, sun and moon positions, and cloud cover for your location. Visit outsidelookingup.com to sign up - it's also a free service. User data will be permanently deleted on 25 Feb, 2026.
This site is designed to give a quick and easy way to check possible aurora activity in your area. Although the information on the site is geared towards New Zealand, it would also be useful in South America or southern parts of Australia. Times given on the site are NZ local time.
To see aurora you need a clear night with no clouds or bright moonlight, in a location away from city light pollution. To find out more about viewing the aurora, read the help page.
You can also sign up for free email alerts. These can include daily forecasts for the next three days aurora activity, as well as real-time alerts when Kp levels go above your preset level. To get started with alerts, visit the alerts page.
You'll need a free account to signup for alerts - register here.
Short-term forecast
Data received 12:24pm February 04, 2026 (NZ local time) This is the most accurate forecast available, based on current satellite data. The available time-span of this data changes, depending on current solar wind speeds. This information is automatically updated every minute.
12:24pm - 12:59pm
Kp 2.30
3 Day aurora forecast
Data issued 01:30am February 04, 2026. This information is updated every 12 hours.
The greatest observed Kp over the past 24 hours was 2. The greatest expected Kp over the next three days is 5.00.
The following forecast times are in NZ local time:
03 Feb 2026
1pm to 4pm
Kp 2.00
4pm to 7pm
Kp 1.67
7pm to 10pm
Kp 1.00
10pm to 1am
Kp 1.00
04 Feb 2026
1am to 4am
Kp 0.67
4am to 7am
Kp 1.33
7am to 10am
Kp 1.67
10am to 1pm
Kp 1.67
1pm to 4pm
Kp 1.67
4pm to 7pm
Kp 1.67
7pm to 10pm
Kp 1.33
10pm to 1am
Kp 1.33
05 Feb 2026
1am to 4am
Kp 1.33
4am to 7am
Kp 1.33
7am to 10am
Kp 1.33
10am to 1pm
Kp 1.67
1pm to 4pm
Kp 2.00
4pm to 7pm
Kp 2.00
7pm to 10pm
Kp 1.67
10pm to 1am
Kp 1.33
06 Feb 2026
1am to 4am
Kp 1.33
4am to 7am
Kp 3.00
7am to 10am
Kp 4.33
10am to 1pm
Kp 5.00 (G1)
About the Kp readings
Data is forecast or recorded using the following methods:
Current Kp: Current levels expected on Earth. This is based on current data from a satellite positioned in L1 orbit, to give a short-timescale prediction at Earth.
Highest forecast Kp in the next hour: This uses the University of Michigan’s Geospace model to predict what the Kp level is expected to be in the near future, based on current satellite data. The Geospace model can provide Kp forecasts with approximately 30 to 60 minutes advanced warning, depending on the speed of the solar wind.
Highest observed Kp in the past 24 hours: Taken from the 3-day NOAA Geomagnetic Activity Observation and Forecast, updated every 12 hours by the Space Weather Prediction Center.
Highest forecast Kp in the next three days: Taken from the 3-day NOAA Geomagnetic Activity Observation and Forecast, updated every 12 hours by the Space Weather Prediction Center.
