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Aurora tonight inToronto

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Northern lights guide

Seeing the northern lights from Toronto

Toronto sits at 52.7° magnetic latitude, just south of the usual auroral oval. A Kp of about 4.5 brings aurora into view low on the northern horizon, and about 6.8 puts it overhead.

Kp needed
4.5
On the northern horizon. Overhead from about Kp 6.8.
Look toward
N 2°
Facing north, toward the magnetic pole.
Best hours
10:30 PM–2:30 AM
Centered on magnetic midnight, 12:30 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: 8.3 hours8AprMay: 6.7 hours7MayJune: 5.8 hours6JunJuly: 6.3 hours6JulAugust: 7.7 hours8AugSeptember: 9.3 hours9SepOctober: 11.0 hours11OctNovember: 12.0 hours12NovDecember: 12.7 hours13Dec

There is a dark sky every night of the year, so aurora season never closes in Toronto. 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 Toronto
  • Kp 7G3 strong storm: aurora overhead from Toronto
  • Kp 5G1 minor storm: aurora on the horizon from Toronto
  • Kp 3Unsettled: aurora not in view from Toronto
  • Kp 1Quiet: aurora not in view from Toronto

Questions about the aurora in Toronto

Can you see the northern lights in Toronto?

Yes, on active nights. You need a Kp of about 4.5 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 Toronto?

About Kp 4.5 for aurora on the northern horizon and about Kp 6.8 for aurora overhead. These come from Toronto's magnetic latitude of 52.7°.

Which direction should I look for the aurora in Toronto?

Face north (2°), 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 Toronto?

Activity often peaks around magnetic midnight, which falls near 12:30 AM local time in Toronto in December. The two hours either side are the best window.

When is aurora season in Toronto?

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