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Aurora tonight inMontréal

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Northern lights guide

Seeing the northern lights from Montréal

Montréal sits at 54.6° magnetic latitude, just south of the usual auroral oval. A Kp of about 3.6 brings aurora into view low on the northern horizon, and about 5.8 puts it overhead.

Kp needed
3.6
On the northern horizon. Overhead from about Kp 5.8.
Look toward
N 0°
Facing north, toward the magnetic pole.
Best hours
10:05 PM–2:05 AM
Centered on magnetic midnight, 12:05 AM local time in December.
How often
Several nights a month in active years
It takes an unsettled or active night, which is common near solar maximum. A rough guide.

Dark hours by month

Hours each night with the sun at least 12° below the horizon, on the 15th of each month.

January: 12.5 hours12JanFebruary: 11.3 hours11FebMarch: 10.0 hours10MarApril: 8.2 hours8AprMay: 6.3 hours6MayJune: 5.5 hours6JunJuly: 6.0 hours6JulAugust: 7.5 hours8AugSeptember: 9.3 hours9SepOctober: 11.0 hours11OctNovember: 12.3 hours12NovDecember: 13.0 hours13Dec

There is a dark sky every night of the year, so aurora season never closes in Montréal. Geomagnetic activity also tends to run higher around the March and September equinoxes.

What each storm level means here

The higher the Kp index, the farther the oval spreads toward the equator.

  • Kp 9G5 extreme storm: aurora overhead from Montréal
  • Kp 7G3 strong storm: aurora overhead from Montréal
  • Kp 5G1 minor storm: aurora on the horizon from Montréal
  • Kp 3Unsettled: aurora not in view from Montréal
  • Kp 1Quiet: aurora not in view from Montréal

Questions about the aurora in Montréal

Can you see the northern lights in Montréal?

Yes, on active nights. You need a Kp of about 3.6 for aurora on the northern horizon and clear, dark skies away from city lights.

What Kp index do you need to see the aurora in Montréal?

About Kp 3.6 for aurora on the northern horizon and about Kp 5.8 for aurora overhead. These come from Montréal's magnetic latitude of 54.6°.

Which direction should I look for the aurora in Montréal?

Face north (0°), toward the magnetic pole. That is where the aurora rises first. In a strong storm it can spread across the whole sky.

What time of night is best for the aurora in Montréal?

Activity often peaks around magnetic midnight, which falls near 12:05 AM local time in Montréal in December. The two hours either side are the best window.

When is aurora season in Montréal?

There is a dark sky every night of the year, so aurora season never closes in Montréal. Geomagnetic activity also tends to run higher around the March and September equinoxes.