![]() ![]() On warmer nights, there is usually precipitation or at least quite a bit of cloud coverage. This often coincides with some of our coldest nights, since clear dark weather in Iceland usually means temperatures near or below freezing. In order to see the northern lights, the skies need to be very clear. ![]() The old cliché “if you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes” could not be truer of this country. ![]() Since Iceland is a small north Atlantic island, it is subject to fierce and rapidly changing weather. The weather is another important factor, but not necessarily for the reason that you may think. This is why many aurora hunters prefer Spring (March) and Autumn (mid-August to November), as it is a milder time of year. This can be a stormy time of year, which often complicates domestic travel and creates a great deal of cloud cover. Some sources will recommend December to February, as they are the darkest months with the longest possible window to see the lights, however, these sources often fail to take into account that these months can have the most volatile weather. The best season to see the northern lights in Iceland with solid darkness is from September to March, as these are the months where there are full dark nights. Auroral activity can happen at ANY time, we just lack the proper darkness to view it outside of that time frame.)Īnd speaking of darkness, guaranteed darkness is the first most important factor. The aurora may have a season, but that season is only bound to our light cycle. ![]() It is always good to remember when dealing with a wonder of the natural world, that there are exceptions for every single thing. (It is not impossible to see the lights in early August or mid-April, but typically it would be too bright before and after that timeframe. There are theories that while these occurrences may be happening simultaneously, they may be more like siblings, than twins, in appearance.Īs mentioned early, to see the northern lights in Iceland, it is important first to be here in the correct season, which is mid-August to early April. This of course means that the Auroras are often happening, even if they aren’t visible to us down on the ground. Due to color frequency, some of these are harder to see than others.Īccording to the Northern Lights Centre in Canada, scientific studies have found that the northern and southern Auroras often occur at the same time as mirror images. These colors are created by the collision of the particles with different gases, and so it is not impossible for rarities like yellow, orange, blues, and reds can occur. They are visible in the magnetic polar regions of the northern and southern hemispheres (they are known as Aurora Australis in the south) and they can range in color from white, green, red, pink, and purple.ĭepending on your own personal color processing, these colors can appear differently to you than to your neighbor, which is a curious thing to explore when viewing an aurora with a friend. The northern lights are the result of electrically charged particles from the sun colliding with gaseous particles in the Earth’s atmosphere, causing displays of bright, colorful dancing lights. Or opt for a stay in the deserted landscape for a view from your bedroom (our favs at the bottom of this list!).First, a little bit of background on the aurora. However, it’s also handy to just book a tour to see the northern lights since guides know the best places to view the northern lights as they watch the weather and visibility predictions. There are forecasts predicting visibility on the national weather website. While not common, it’s possible to see northern lights in late August if the conditions are right-and if you’re up in the wee hours of the night. That chaos creates the bright lights that absolutely mesmerize viewers.Įven after 11 years of living in Iceland, I can’t get enough of them! I can tell you that the best time to see northern lights is from September to March, but especially in the deepest part of winter. The natural phenomenon is caused by solar winds, which blow electronic particles into molecules of atmospheric gases. The biggest winter attraction in Iceland is searching for the aurora borealis (northern lights). It’s not a secret and it’s not something to miss, either. ![]()
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