Yellowknife

Yellowknife, the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories, is renowned for its breathtaking display of the Northern Lights. Nestled on the shores of Great Slave Lake, this vibrant city offers a unique blend of culture, adventure, and stunning natural beauty.

Yellowknife is located directly under the auroral oval, making it one of the best places in the world to witness the Northern Lights, particularly from late August to mid-April. The region’s cold climate often results in clear nights, enhancing your chances of seeing this spectacular phenomenon.

Visiting Yellowknife to see the Northern Lights is truly a bucket-list experience, combining the magic of the aurora with the warmth of local hospitality. Yellowknife is home to Aurora Village. Are you ready to plan your adventure under the stars?

Book an amazing adventure in Yellowknife

  • Free cancellation Likely to sell out

    Guided Snowmobile Adventure

    4.9 (127)

    2 hours From £87.73

    This is likely the most exciting and interactive experience for your stay in Yellowknife. This guided tour is fun, exciting, safe and is suitable for young kids to seniors. Thanks to the state of the art Skidoos with heated handle bars, heated helmets, Canada Goose + CKX clothing, along with carefully selected wind sheltering trails. Guest can enjoy the wilderness in comfort even in -40C weather. Clothing is provided based upon needs of guests and availability. Let this tour be part of your forever treasured memory of the amazing arctic adventure.

  • Free cancellation

    Alaskan Husky Dog Sledding at Yellowknife Enodah Kennel

    5.0 (9)

    3 hours From £85.54

    Join us on a dogsledding odyssey traversing untouched frozen lakes and picturesque forested portages. Our professional dog mushers will take you step-by-step through this unique northern experience, from setting up the dog team, riding on a sled through the trails, and thanking our amazing furry athletes afterward with some well-deserved cuddle time. After your journey, share your stories from the trail and warm up with a hot beverage in our heated Aurora Station!

  • 5D4N Aurora Package Including 4-Nights stay Chateau or Explorer

    No reviews

    5 days From £536.80

    Stay at the top-rated Chateau Nova or Explorer hotel Our Aurora lodge provides a spacious and cozy indoor space where you can wait for the Aurora without having to endure the cold or crowded vehicles 24 hours airport pick City tour that takes you to must-see landmarks such as Pilots Monument, Vistor centre to get certificate and small knife, Ndilo and old town. Ice road in winter, Ice castle in March. Free Aurora photos and send them to you via a drive link, ensuring that you can treasure your memories of the trip forever. Cozy and warm Aurora lodge aurora viewing +Aurora hunting Experienced drivers guides and commercial vehicles equipped with 2 million dollars of insurance, you can enjoy a safe and worry-free journe Note:This tour is not conducted primarily in English and is suited for English-speaking tourists who are flexible with language."

  • Northern Lights Tours

    4.5 (295)

    4 - 6 hours From £49.35

    Your number one Northern Lights Tour! Weather and Northern Lights direction are the most important things to take into account when choosing a viewing location. We take a very scientific approach into choosing the location with the highest probability on any given night. We offer the highest chance to see the aurora on any given night (proven by out outstanding record) We do not set time limits as they could have a negative impact on the tour and we would never want our guests to miss an opportunity. Included in our tour: -Unlimited professional photography service (shared at the end of the tour) -Hot Drinks and Snacks -Pick up and drop from any hotel or bnb in Yellowknife

  • 4D3N Aurora Package Including 3-Nights stay Chateau or Explorer

    4.6 (18)

    4 days From £487.45

    Stay at the top-rated Explorer Hotel or Chateau Nova. Our Aurora Lodge offers a spacious and cozy indoor area where you can comfortably wait for the Aurora without facing the cold or crowded vehicles. Package includes: ️24-hour airport pickup ️A city tour featuring must-see landmarks such as Pilots Monument, the Visitor Centre (where you can receive a certificate and a small knife), Ndilo, and Old Town. ️✅During the winter, enjoy the Ice Road, and in March, experience the Ice Castle. ️Free Aurora photos delivered via a drive link, allowing you to cherish the memories of your trip forever. ️Warm and cozy Aurora Lodge viewing, plus Aurora hunting. ️Experienced drivers and guides, with commercial vehicles equipped with $2 million in insurance, ensuring a safe and worry-free journey. Note: This tour is not primarily conducted in English but is suitable for English-speaking tourists who are flexible with language.

  • Yellowknife 4 Days 3 Nights Aurora Tour Package - Accommodation not included

    5.0 (2)

    4 days From £271.42

    Our Aurora Lodge offers a spacious and cozy indoor area where you can comfortably wait for the Aurora without facing the cold or crowded vehicles. Package includes: ️✅24-hour airport pickup ️✅A city tour featuring must-see landmarks such as Pilots Monument, the Visitor Centre (where you can receive a certificate and a small knife), Ndilo, and Old Town. ️✅During the winter, enjoy the Ice Road, and in March, experience the Ice Castle. ️✅Free Aurora photos delivered via a drive link, allowing you to cherish the memories of your trip forever. ️✅Warm and cozy Aurora Lodge viewing, plus Aurora hunting. ️✅Experienced drivers and guides, with commercial vehicles equipped with $2 million in insurance, ensuring a safe and worry-free journey. Note: This tour is not primarily conducted in English but is suitable for English-speaking tourists who are flexible with language.

How are my chances of seeing the aurora today?

Forecasts last updated on 14 March 2025 at 2:27am

0%

Currently there is a 0% chance of seeing the aurora overhead in the Yellowknife area.

Kp 4.33

The Kp-index is a scale used to measure geomagnetic activity. It ranges from 0 to 9, with higher values indicating greater geomagnetic activity.

  • 0-2 (Very low) Far north, quite dim, and not very active.
  • 3-5 (Moderate) Can be seen further south, with increased brightness and activity. Chance of good viewing conditions nearer the pole.
  • 6-7 (High) Visible in many northern regions, with vibrant displays.
  • 8-9 (Extreme) Widespread visibility, often seen in areas much further south than usual, with intense and colorful displays.
Bz 1 nT

Bz refers to the north-south orientation of the magnetic field embedded in the solar wind. It is measured in nanoteslas (nT).

When Bz is negative (southward), it allows solar wind particles to penetrate the Earth’s magnetic field more easily. A strong negative Bz is often associated with increased chances of seeing the Northern Lights.

Conversely, when Bz is positive (northward), the Earth’s magnetic field tends to block the solar wind, resulting in reduced auroral activity.

Density 0.10 p/cm3

Solar wind density refers to the number of charged particles in a given volume of the solar wind, typically measured in particles per cubic centimeter (p/cm3).

A typical solar wind density is around 2.76 p/cm3.

The density of the solar wind affects how many particles reach the Earth’s magnetosphere. A higher density means more particles are available to interact with the Earth’s magnetic field. When these charged particles collide with the gases in the Earth’s atmosphere, they produce the stunning light displays known as auroras.

Speed 522.5 km/s

The speed of the solar wind also plays a significant role. A typical solar wind speed is about 375 km/s. When both speed and density are high, the energy transferred to the Earth’s magnetosphere increases, enhancing the chances of seeing vibrant auroras.

Clouds

-16°C Feels like -20°C

High
-14°C
Low
-24°C
  • Precipitation: 0%
  • Cloud cover: 100%
  • Wind: 3 km/h

Moon

Waxing gibbous

  • Sun rises at: 8:00am
  • Sun sets at: 7:33pm
  • Moon rises at: 7:07pm
  • Moon sets at: 8:11am

Places to check out around Yellowknife

Discover Restaurants, Hiking Trails, Performing Arts Venues and more…

Other places in Canada

BanffChurchillWhitehorse

See also

Planning Your Northern Lights AdventureNorthern Lights PhotographyScience Of The AuroraNorthern Lights Playlist