Skip to content
Magnetic · Storms

Magnetic storms in Xinjiang

Magnetic storms in Xinjiang, China. Current Kp index, 3-day storm forecast, list of cities and geomagnetic activity.

Cities in region5/5

1.7QUIET
Geomagnetic conditions over Xinjiang right now
Quiet

An aurora visible over Xinjiang requires Kp ≥ 9 — current activity is below that level.

Numbers for Xinjiang

Cities
5
Population
5.2 M
Time zone
UTC+6
Latitude category
Low latitudes
Northernmost city
Shihezi
44.3° N
Southernmost city
Kashgar
39.5° N
Geomagnetic latitude
31.3° → 35.5°
average 33.5°
Nearest observatory
Alma-Ata
528 km from centre

Aurora forecast over Xinjiang

Current Kp
1.7
Minimum Kp for aurora
9
for latitude 33.5° (mean)
Right now
— no
Best season: September – March

Cities of Xinjiang — sensitivity table

Minimum Kp shown for a realistic chance of seeing an aurora. The lower the number, the more noticeable storms are in the city.

CityPopulationGeomagnetic latitudeKp thresholdSensitivity
UEruemqi3,029,37234.9°9Low latitudes
Shihezi572,77235.5°9Low latitudes
Korla549,32433.0°9Low latitudes
Aqsu535,65732.7°9Low latitudes
Kashgar506,64031.3°9Low latitudes

FAQ about magnetic storms in Xinjiang

Are auroras visible in Xinjiang?+

Almost never. Xinjiang lies at low geomagnetic latitudes (≈ 33.5°). Visible auroras are possible only during extreme events (Kp ≥ 9) that occur once in several years.

How do magnetic storms affect residents of Xinjiang?+

At Kp ≥ 5 weather-sensitive people may experience blood pressure swings, headaches, sleep disturbances. Effects are moderate due to low geomagnetic latitude. However, strong G3+ storms can cause noticeable discomfort even here.

What Kp is needed to see an aurora in Xinjiang?+

By our estimate — Kp ≥ 9 (based on the regional mean of 33.5° geomagnetic latitude). The threshold is lower in the north of the region and higher in the south. For a specific city, open its page and check the «Aurora visibility threshold» section.

Where is the best place to watch auroras in Xinjiang?+

Best conditions are at the northernmost city in our database (Shihezi, 44.3° N). The further north, the higher the geomagnetic latitude and the more frequent the auroras. Also important: clear sky, no city light pollution, and observation around local midnight.

What is the nearest magnetic observatory?+

The nearest observatory is Alma-Ata, at 528 km from the centre of Xinjiang. It belongs to the INTERMAGNET network and records the geomagnetic field in real time.

About magnetic storms: Xinjiang

Magnetic storms in Xinjiang (China) today: planetary Kp = 1.7 (quiet). The database holds 5 cities in the region with live geomagnetic data and forecasts.

Pick a city from the list to see detailed information: local time, geomagnetic latitude, distance to the nearest magnetic observatory, 3-day Kp chart with forecast and aurora visibility chance. All cities in Xinjiang use the same planetary Kp, but the local impact is computed individually per coordinates.

How a magnetic storm may manifest in Xinjiang: at Kp ≥ 5, weather-sensitive people can have headaches, blood-pressure swings, sleep disruption. At Kp ≥ 7, GPS navigation and shortwave radio may glitch. At Kp ≥ 8 — power-grid issues. Data from NOAA SWPC, updated every 10 minutes.

Inside Xinjiang, geomagnetic latitude varies from 31.3° to 35.5°, with a mean of 33.5°. The northernmost city, Shihezi, gets aurora visibility opportunities first when Kp climbs; the 4.2° south-to-north spread is enough to put neighbouring cities into very different storm-response groups.

The nearest magnetic observatory tracking conditions over Xinjiang is Alma-Ata. Combined with the planetary Kp index from NOAA SWPC, this station gives the closest reference point for how the local magnetic field behaves during storms in this part of China.

Magnetic storms in Xinjiang · Magnetic Storms