Tonight
Oct 28 - Oct 29
- 23 °F
73 percent cloud cover - 25 °F77 percent cloud cover
- 29 °F
99 percent cloud cover
Northern Lights Forecast for Chena Hot Springs
Chena Hot Springs, Alaska, United States
65°3′11.2″N ⋅ 146°3′24.8″W
Aurora data last updated at
Current local time:
Can you see the Northern Lights in Chena Hot Springs tonight?
Aurora activity is expected to be low between 5 PM and 9 AM in Chena Hot Springs tonight. Sky will be dark from 7:26 PM to 7:30 AM local time. Cloud cover around that time looks mostly cloudy at 15% to 100%. Low activity and cloud cover together may make the aurora difficult to spot.
Can you see the Northern Lights in Chena Hot Springs tonight?
Aurora activity is expected to be low between 5 PM and 9 AM in Chena Hot Springs tonight. Sky will be dark from 7:26 PM to 7:30 AM local time. Cloud cover around that time looks mostly cloudy at 15% to 100%. Low activity and cloud cover together may make the aurora difficult to spot.
Aurora Forecast for Chena Hot Springs, AK
Today at 9:00 AM
Low Activity
Cloud Cover:100%
Aurora activity
High clouds
Middle clouds
Low clouds
Fog
Aurora activity
High clouds
Middle clouds
Low clouds
Fog
Hourly aurora forecast for Chena Hot Springs
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3-Night Weather Forecast for Chena Hot Springs, AK
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Tomorrow night
Oct 29 - Oct 30
- 37 °F
95 percent cloud cover - 37 °F96 percent cloud cover
- 38 °F88 percent cloud cover
Friday night
Oct 30 - Oct 31
- 38 °F98 percent cloud cover
- 29 °F
23 percent cloud cover
Sun & Moon
Sunset
Sunrise
Dark from 07:26 PM to 07:30 AM (12 h 4 min)
Current Moon
Waning Gibbous
91% illumination
Refresh to load today's sun path.
Long-Term Aurora Forecast for Chena Hot Springs, AK
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wednesday, October 28, 2026. Today. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 2 out of 10. Waning gibbous, 92% illumination | Thursday, October 29, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 2 out of 10. Waning gibbous, 85% illumination | Friday, October 30, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 2 out of 10. Waning gibbous, 76% illumination | Saturday, October 31, 2026. High aurora activity. Aurora score 7 out of 10. Last quarter, 65% illumination | Sunday, November 1, 2026. Moderate aurora activity. Aurora score 6 out of 10. Last quarter, 54% illumination | ||
Monday, November 2, 2026. Moderate aurora activity. Aurora score 4 out of 10. Last quarter, 43% illumination | Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 2 out of 10. Last quarter, 32% illumination | Wednesday, November 4, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 2 out of 10. Waning crescent, 23% illumination | Thursday, November 5, 2026. Moderate aurora activity. Aurora score 4 out of 10. Waning crescent, 14% illumination | Friday, November 6, 2026. Moderate aurora activity. Aurora score 4 out of 10. Waning crescent, 8% illumination | Saturday, November 7, 2026. Moderate aurora activity. Aurora score 4 out of 10. New moon, 3% illumination | Sunday, November 8, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 2 out of 10. New moon, 1% illumination |
Monday, November 9, 2026. Moderate aurora activity. Aurora score 5 out of 10. New moon, 0% illumination | Tuesday, November 10, 2026. Moderate aurora activity. Aurora score 4 out of 10. New moon, 2% illumination | Wednesday, November 11, 2026. Moderate aurora activity. Aurora score 4 out of 10. Waxing crescent, 5% illumination | Thursday, November 12, 2026. Moderate aurora activity. Aurora score 4 out of 10. Waxing crescent, 10% illumination | Friday, November 13, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 2 out of 10. Waxing crescent, 16% illumination | Saturday, November 14, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 2 out of 10. Waxing crescent, 23% illumination | Sunday, November 15, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 2 out of 10. First quarter, 32% illumination |
Monday, November 16, 2026. Moderate aurora activity. Aurora score 4 out of 10. First quarter, 41% illumination | Tuesday, November 17, 2026. Moderate aurora activity. Aurora score 6 out of 10. First quarter, 50% illumination | Wednesday, November 18, 2026. Moderate aurora activity. Aurora score 6 out of 10. First quarter, 60% illumination | Thursday, November 19, 2026. Moderate aurora activity. Aurora score 4 out of 10. Waxing gibbous, 70% illumination | Friday, November 20, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 2 out of 10. Waxing gibbous, 79% illumination | Saturday, November 21, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 2 out of 10. Waxing gibbous, 87% illumination | Sunday, November 22, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 2 out of 10. Waxing gibbous, 94% illumination |
Monday, November 23, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 2 out of 10. Full moon, 98% illumination | Tuesday, November 24, 2026. Low aurora activity. Aurora score 2 out of 10. Full moon, 100% illumination |
LowAurora ActivityHigh
Best Time to See the Northern Lights in Chena Hot Springs
The aurora season in Chena Hot Springs runs from mid-August to late April, when the nights get dark. Your best chances are from September to November, and again from January to March, when the aurora shows on most clear nights.
- Dark hours
- Chance of aurora
Long-term averages for clear nights, since 1985. Geomagnetic data: GFZ, CC BY 4.0
Every night of 2026 in Chena Hot Springs, January at the top: how long it's dark, and the chance of aurora on a clear night.
Northern Lights at Chena Hot Springs
Chena Hot Springs Resort is at the end of Chena Hot Springs Road, about 60 miles northeast of Fairbanks. The road is paved, maintained all year and ends at the resort, so there is no town nearby and very little artificial light. The aurora season runs from late August to April, and the busiest hours for the aurora are usually around 10 PM to 3 AM.
Soaking in the Rock Lake under the aurora
The outdoor Rock Lake is a natural hot spring at about 106°F and is for ages 18 and up. It closes shortly before midnight, and you don’t need an overnight stay to use it. That means you can soak through the early part of the night, but if the aurora shows up after midnight you will be watching from the grounds rather than the water. Under-18s can use the indoor pool, and the outdoor deck hot tub with an adult.
Aurora viewing tour on Charlie Dome
The resort runs a five-hour aurora tour up Charlie Dome. You ride about 30 minutes in a military-style SUSV to heated yurts on the dome and spend around four hours there with open 360° views of the sky. The minimum age is 6, and there are no refunds if the aurora doesn’t appear.
Aurora Ice Museum at Chena Hot Springs
The Aurora Ice Museum is open every day of the year. It is built from more than 1,000 tons of ice and snow and kept at 25°F. Guided tours take about 45 minutes, parkas are provided, and you can order an appletini in an ice glass at the ice bar. The resort also generates its own electricity from geothermal power.
Chena Hot Springs Road from Fairbanks
- Driving: The drive takes a little over an hour in good conditions. Gas and snacks are available at mile 3 and at the Pleasant Valley Store at mile 23.
- Resort shuttle: A daily shuttle runs all year from Fairbanks hotels, the airport and the Alaska Railroad depot. It takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.
- Evening tours: Some Fairbanks tours combine a soak, the ice museum and aurora watching. They leave in the late afternoon and get back to town in the small hours.
FAQ
Can you see the northern lights from the hot springs at Chena?
Yes, if the aurora is out while the Rock Lake is open. The outdoor lake is for ages 18 and up and closes shortly before midnight. Much of the aurora activity happens later than that, so plan to keep watching from the grounds or join the Charlie Dome tour after your soak.
How far is Chena Hot Springs from Fairbanks?
About 60 miles. The resort is at mile 56.5 of Chena Hot Springs Road, which is paved and maintained all year. Driving takes a little over an hour, and the resort shuttle takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.
Do I need to stay overnight at Chena Hot Springs?
No. You can use the hot springs, pools, activities and restaurant without an overnight stay. Evening tours from Fairbanks leave in the late afternoon and come back in the small hours. If you stay at the resort, you can watch for the aurora all night without the long drive back.
Is the Aurora Ice Museum open in summer?
Yes. The Aurora Ice Museum is open every day of the year and kept at 25°F. Tours take about 45 minutes, are for ages 6 and up, and include a parka.
When is the best time to see the northern lights in Chena Hot Springs?
The aurora season in Chena Hot Springs runs from mid-August to late April, when the nights get dark. Your best chances are from September to November, and again from January to March, when the aurora shows on most clear nights. The longest nights, around 21 December, have about 15 hours of darkness.
What Kp index do I need to see the northern lights in Chena Hot Springs?
In Chena Hot Springs, even quiet geomagnetic conditions can be enough for aurora overhead.
This is based on magnetic latitude, and Kp index is a global geomagnetic index, so treat it as a rule of thumb, not a location-specific guarantee.
Tonight, the NOAA Kp index forecast is around 1.4. That is above the usual Kp index threshold for Chena Hot Springs, so you have a chance of seeing the aurora if the sky is clear.