Northern lights forecast tonight in British Columbia
2 towns across British Columbia, each with tonight's chance from NOAA's Ovation model, updated every 15 minutes. Kp is a 0 to 9 scale of how far the lights reach from the pole, and these towns need Kp 2 to Kp 4 before your eyes pick anything up.
Best tonight
Prince George
Prince George has the strongest chance in British Columbia right now, at 1%.
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Every town in British Columbia tonight
| Town | Chance now | Your eyes need | Tonight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prince George | 1% | Kp 2 | Auroras likely tonight |
| Vancouver | 0% | Kp 4 | No auroras expected right now |
Faint aurora looks gray to your eyes and green to a phone. In British Columbia a phone picks it up from about Kp 1, and your eyes need Kp 2.
Aurora is possible in British Columbia from late August to mid-April. The sky has to be dark and clear. Clouds stop everything, and no camera gets around that.
Where people actually stand in British Columbia
Places locals and guides name, with what each one gives you. Every town below has its own page.
Vancouver
Spanish Banks
7 km west · bus
The default close-in spot: you're on the sand looking north across English Bay at the North Shore mountains, with the downtown light dome off to your right instead of in your face. On the big storm nights in May and October 2024 the whole beach filled up with tripods. Heads up that the parking lots gate around 10 p.m., which is exactly when things get good, so park on NW Marine outside the gates or take the bus and walk down.
Burnaby Mountain (SFU)
14 km east · bus
Locals shoot from the north side of the mountain by Centennial Way and the totem poles, looking over Burrard Inlet toward Indian Arm; the Oct 10, 2024 show was photographed from right here at 11 p.m. High enough to get above some of the haze, close enough that the 145 bus from Production Way SkyTrain still gets you home. The park road lot can close around 10 p.m., so be ready to walk in from Centennial Way.
Porteau Cove Provincial Park
32 km north · car
The serious option: 40 minutes up the Sea to Sky, and you're looking straight north up Howe Sound with dark water in front of you and no city glow behind the mountains. This is where Metro Vancouver's aurora timelapses get shot. Know the rules before you go: the day-use area closes at 11 p.m., BC Parks does not allow driving into the campground just to watch the sky, and you cross active train tracks to reach the water.
Questions about the northern lights in British Columbia
Where in British Columbia is the best place tonight?
Prince George has the strongest chance right now at 1%. The list above reorders itself every 15 minutes, so the answer changes through the night.
What Kp do you need to see the northern lights in British Columbia?
Between Kp 2 and Kp 4, depending on how far north the town is. Kp is a 0 to 9 scale of how far the lights reach from the pole. Prince George needs the least at Kp 2.
When is the best time of year in British Columbia?
Aurora is possible from late August to mid-April, because the nights are long enough to be properly dark. A clear sky matters more than the forecast number.
Can an iPhone photograph the northern lights in British Columbia?
Yes, from about Kp 1. A phone picks up aurora that is too faint for your eyes. Rest it on something steady and give it a long exposure. What looks gray to you comes out green on the phone.
Aurora possible over Prince George tonight — be ready to film it.
When you're finally standing in the cold under the night you've waited years for, there are no retakes — the sky does its show once and moves on. So pack the jacket, pack the thermos, and pack the one thing that makes the night eternal: the iOS astrophotography app built for auroras. Long after the trip, you'll still have the display itself, moving, in 4K.
- ✦ Set it down and it arms itself
- ✦ 4K timelapse + a still from the session
- ✦ Aurora intelligence tunes every capture
- ✦ Tracks the aurora live — no extra app
- ✦ Apple Watch companion
- ✦ Pay once, own it forever