Northern lights in Reykjavík in August
Possible, with patience — 16% of August nights offer a window.
16%of nights offer a window
3 hof darkness per night
79%of days with enough solar activity
21%of nights with a clear hour
The numbers behind it: August nights in Reykjavík average about 3 dark hours, geomagnetic activity reaches local viewing levels on 79% of days, and 21% of nights offer at least one reasonably clear hour after dark.
The sky itself is the main obstacle in August — clouds spoil more nights than quiet solar activity does. Build in spare nights, and be ready to drive toward whatever gap the cloud forecast shows.
Numbers come from 1996–2025 Kp records (GFZ Potsdam) and 2015–2024 hourly cloud history for Reykjavík itself — the full method is on the methodology page. Travelling soon? Check tonight's live Reykjavík forecast.
August against the rest of the year
- Jan32% of nights
- Feb30% of nights
- Mar29% of nights
- Apr24% of nights
- Maymidnight sun
- Junmidnight sun
- Julmidnight sun
- Aug16% of nights
- Sep31% of nights
- Oct29% of nights
- Nov31% of nights
- Dec31% of nights
July in Reykjavík · September in Reykjavík · full year overview
August elsewhere under the oval
- Yellowknife 50% of nights
- Fairbanks 13% of nights
- Kiruna 11% of nights
- Rovaniemi 11% of nights
- Abisko 6% of nights
- Lofoten Islands 6% of nights
- Tromsø 3% of nights