Top Aurora Forecast App to Track the Northern Lights in Real-Time

2025 is shaping up to be one of the strongest aurora seasons in years and if seeing the Northern Lights is on your bucket list, Hello Aurora is the only app you'll need to make it happen.

Packed with real-time aurora forecast, Northern Lights alerts, community-driven insights, and beautiful aurora photography, Hello Aurora is the aurora tracking app trusted by more than 228,000 aurora hunter used by both locals aurora lovers, professional guides and tourists across the globe.

In this guide, we’ll break down exactly why Hello Aurora is the best and ads free tool for Northern Lights hunters who want to take their experience to the next level and how it can help you successfully witness this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Real-time aurora forecast

Hello Aurora helps users see the northern lights (aurora borealis) by using real-time data from scientific magnetometer stations across the Arctic. Since 2020, we have implemented data from multiple space agencies and automatically selects the magnetometer station closest to your location for aurora predictions. The app updates this data every few minutes, giving users the most current information about aurora activity in their area.

Why real-time data matters for aurora viewing

Most other aurora apps rely on the Kp index an average value based on multiple location around the globe, even in some non-aurora places. It was not initially made for auroral activity and it updates up to six hours. However, this approach has significant limitations. The Kp index provides average regional predictions rather than real-time conditions, and aurora activity changes rapidly throughout the night. Strong, spectacular aurora displays can occur even when the Kp index shows low activity levels, meaning users relying on traditional forecasts often miss incredible viewing opportunities.

Real-time data vs KP index

• Real-time forecast updates every few minutes so you can get the latest aurora activity as it happens, not hours-old predictions
• Accurate predictions, Hello Aurora uses the closest magnetometer station to your exact location for pinpoint accuracy not a broad regional forecast

Aurora Possibility

Hello Aurora provides a percentage chance of the possibility for you to see the Northern Lights at your location using real-time date, astronomy and weather data from trusted sources. The percentage is change depending on your location to show you how likely for you to see the aurora based on real-time data and your location.

Aurora Alerts

Timing is everything when it comes to aurora chasing. With Hello Aurora you'll get push notification of:

• Substorm notifications: receive instant alerts the moment when the substorm is expanding at in the Northern Lights country and when there is a chance of seeing the aurora.
• Aurora spotted alerts: when someone spotted an aurora in your location.

Whether you're in Iceland, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Canada, or even Germany or Switzerland, Hello Aurora will let you know when to look up especially during the solar cycle.

For Pro users: opt-in for the ability t control the notification from a certain distance base. So you can only focus on the notification that matters to you.

Aurora Spotted

Aurora hunting doesn’t have to be a solo mission. With Hello Aurora, you can:

• Let other people know when the aurora is visible
• Upload real-time aurora photos
• Add your location and the aurora intensity
• Browse photos from other users around the world

Hello Aurora creates a global, community powered aurora feed, where users inspire and support each other and help each other not miss a light again. On Hello Aurora users reported aurora sighting 19000 times yearly.

Check where aurora was most spotted in Iceland in 2025

Travelling to Norway? see where the most popular Northern Lights location were.

Not in the arctic? You can still experience the Aurora

Even if you're not in an aurora zone, Hello Aurora lets you customize your alert location and receive updates from anywhere in the world.

This is perfect for:

• Virtual Northern Lights fans
• Planning future trips
• Following aurora activity across the globe
• You can even see live photos from real aurora zones without stepping outside.

Easy to understand forecasts

One of the biggest frustrations with chasing the Northern Lights is complicated data and many don't know how to read the aurora forecast. On Hello Aurora, we translates the science information into easy to read text and percentage based for you to understand easily. Reading aurora forecast doesn't need to be for professionals only.

Built-in cloud coverage

Cloud forecast is one of the most important and big enemy for Northern Lights hunte. You don't have to jump between sources. Just check the cloud coverage map for Iceland, Norway, United Kingdom, Sweden and Finland so you’ll know if the sky is clear before heading out.

Track your Aurora Success

For Pro users, easily track your aurora stats. See how many aurora you have seen and store your aurora photos on your profile.

Download Hello Aurora now on iOS or Android and become part of the global community chasing the Northern Lights together.