This forecast covered the night of 2026-10-11. It stays online as a record of what was forecast. For current conditions, check the live forecast. Live aurora forecast

UK aurora recap: original Kp 5.7 forecast

Original forecast checked October 10 at 19:03 UTC placed Kp 5.67 in this article’s specified October 11 interval. NOAA’s planetary K index was later observed lower in that same interval; this is a global measurement, not a city visibility report.

By AuroraMe Space Weather Desk Published Oct 10, 2026, 21:06 CEST Updated Oct 11, 2026, 21:18 CEST
Northern Scotland aurora forecast WATCH

This recap compares the original global Kp forecast with the observed planetary K index for the same three-hour interval. It is not a city visibility report.

Original forecast Kp 5.67 For 00:00–03:00 UTC on October 11
Observed planetary Kp 4.0 Same 00:00–03:00 UTC interval; not city visibility
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What happened in the original forecast window

NOAA’s planetary K index was observed at 4.0 during 00:00–03:00 UTC on October 11, below this article’s original Kp 5.67 forecast for that exact interval. This is a global geomagnetic reading, not a report of visibility in any city.

City forecast

City Forecast window
Lerwick (Shetland) Oct 11, 01:00–04:00 BST (Kp 5.67)
Scalloway (Shetland) Oct 11, 01:00–04:00 BST (Kp 5.67)
Stromness (Orkney) Oct 11, 01:00–04:00 BST (Kp 5.67)
Kirkwall (Orkney) Oct 11, 01:00–04:00 BST (Kp 5.67)
NOAA northern hemisphere aurora forecast map
AuroraMe combines Kp with magnetic latitude, darkness, moon and cloud data for a live city forecast.

Shetland and Orkney share a 01:00–04:00 BST forecast window.

This article’s local windows and Kp 5.67 figure are the original forecast for its specified three-hour interval.

NOAA later observed a lower planetary K index in that same interval. This global measurement does not report city visibility.

What to do

  1. Check the live forecast for your Shetland or Orkney location before 01:00 BST.
  2. Check cloud cover and darkness again shortly before the local window.
  3. Choose a dark place with an open northern horizon if conditions allow.

Sources and live checks

Original article figures use NOAA SWPC’s Planetary K-index forecast JSON retrieved October 10 at 19:03 UTC. NOAA’s forecast feed checked October 11 at 19:18 UTC records observed Kp 4.0 for 00:00–03:00 UTC on October 11, below the original Kp 5.67 forecast for that exact interval; this is not a city visibility report.