Aurora forecast / February
Northern lights in Iceland in February
Excellent odds, with daylight starting to return.
February keeps the long dark nights of midwinter but the days lengthen noticeably, which makes driving between spots easier and less stressful. Statistically it is one of the more active months for geomagnetic activity. Weather is still firmly winter, so the same advice applies: allow several nights.
How dark does it get in February?
- Reykjavík: 11.8 hours dark enough for aurora
- Akureyri: 11.8 hours dark enough for aurora
Measured on the 15th of the month — the hours the sun sits far enough below the horizon for aurora to be visible.
What February has actually done
Averaged over 20 years (2006-2025), a typical February gives 47.8 hours of clear dark sky — 14.4% of its 332.9 dark hours. Mean geomagnetic activity for the month is Kp 1.7.
Clearest in February: Kirkjubæjarklaustur (61.4 h), Grindavík (60.4 h), Reykjavík (58.8 h).
Cloud measured by reanalysis and corrected against Icelandic weather stations; Kp from GFZ Potsdam. How every month compares.
Roads and access in February
Ring road normally open; passes and F-roads closed. Winter tyres essential.
What else is happening
Ice caves still running, and the first hints of longer daylight for sightseeing.
Every month
January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
Tonight's aurora forecast · Iceland weather map
Somewhere to be while you wait for the month
Step inside Asbyrgi — narrated, and dark enough for the lights when the sky clears.