Credits: Markus Kiili
Northern Lights are most visible from the end of August to April in northern Finland. Auroras, caused by solar winds, occur year-round but the nights need to be dark enough for us to be able to catch a glimpse of this phenomenal light show.
That is why autumn, winter, and spring are the best times to see the Northern Lights.
For practical tips about seeing the northern lights, read our article "How to see the northern lights."
Many people associate the Northern Lights with winter, but the most active seasons are actually autumn and spring. This is when the earth’s orientation towards the sun maximizes the probability of solar flares interacting with the planet’s magnetic field, which creates this mesmerizing phenomenon. Statistically, the lights are visible on every second night.
The best aurorae-watching season starts at the end of August, when the nights get darker, and ends at the start of April, when the nights start to get lighter. Seeing them requires clear skies and just a bit of luck: the Northern Lights are visible on roughly 200 nights a year – or every other clear night – in Lapland. Your chances of catching them get better the further north you go.
Did you know the Finnish Meteorological Institute even has a web page for space weather? It’ll show the Aurora activity in Finland now. There also also local Northern Lights apps available in various parts of Finland.
Did you know that Lapland is also a perfect place to experience other light phenomena during summer? Read more about the fascinating nightless nights and Midnight Sun in Finland.
