Magnetic storms in Catalonia
Magnetic storms in Catalonia, Spain. Current Kp index, 3-day storm forecast, list of cities and geomagnetic activity.
Cities in region20/20
- Barcelona1,686,208
- Eixample266,477
- L'Hospitalet de Llobregat257,038
- Sant Marti235,719
- Terrassa218,535
- Badalona217,741
- Sabadell211,734
- Sants-Montjuic183,120
- Horta-Guinardo168,092
- Nou Barris166,310
- Sarria-Sant Gervasi147,912
- Sant Andreu142,598
- Tarragona141,542
- Lleida140,797
- Mataro126,988
- Gracia121,502
- Santa Coloma de Gramenet118,821
- Reus103,477
- Ciutat Vella102,347
- Girona100,266
An aurora visible over Catalonia requires Kp ≥ 8 — current activity is below that level.
Numbers for Catalonia
Aurora forecast over Catalonia
Cities of Catalonia — 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.
| City | Population | Geomagnetic latitude | Kp threshold | Sensitivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barcelona | 1,686,208 | 43.2° | ≥ 8 | Low latitudes |
| Eixample | 266,477 | 43.2° | ≥ 8 | Low latitudes |
| L'Hospitalet de Llobregat | 257,038 | 43.2° | ≥ 8 | Low latitudes |
| Sant Marti | 235,719 | 43.2° | ≥ 8 | Low latitudes |
| Terrassa | 218,535 | 43.4° | ≥ 8 | Low latitudes |
| Badalona | 217,741 | 43.2° | ≥ 8 | Low latitudes |
| Sabadell | 211,734 | 43.3° | ≥ 8 | Low latitudes |
| Sants-Montjuic | 183,120 | 43.2° | ≥ 8 | Low latitudes |
| Horta-Guinardo | 168,092 | 43.2° | ≥ 8 | Low latitudes |
| Nou Barris | 166,310 | 43.2° | ≥ 8 | Low latitudes |
| Sarria-Sant Gervasi | 147,912 | 43.2° | ≥ 8 | Low latitudes |
| Sant Andreu | 142,598 | 43.2° | ≥ 8 | Low latitudes |
| Tarragona | 141,542 | 43.1° | ≥ 8 | Low latitudes |
| Lleida | 140,797 | 43.6° | ≥ 8 | Low latitudes |
| Mataro | 126,988 | 43.3° | ≥ 8 | Low latitudes |
| Gracia | 121,502 | 43.2° | ≥ 8 | Low latitudes |
| Santa Coloma de Gramenet | 118,821 | 43.2° | ≥ 8 | Low latitudes |
| Reus | 103,477 | 43.1° | ≥ 8 | Low latitudes |
| Ciutat Vella | 102,347 | 43.2° | ≥ 8 | Low latitudes |
| Girona | 100,266 | 43.7° | ≥ 8 | Low latitudes |
FAQ about magnetic storms in Catalonia
Are auroras visible in Catalonia?+
Almost never. Catalonia lies at low geomagnetic latitudes (≈ 43.2°). Visible auroras are possible only during extreme events (Kp ≥ 8) that occur once in several years.
How do magnetic storms affect residents of Catalonia?+
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 Catalonia?+
By our estimate — Kp ≥ 8 (based on the regional mean of 43.2° 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 Catalonia?+
Best conditions are at the northernmost city in our database (Girona, 42.0° 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 Lviv, at 1922 km from the centre of Catalonia. It belongs to the INTERMAGNET network and records the geomagnetic field in real time.
About magnetic storms: Catalonia
Magnetic storms in Catalonia (Spain) today: planetary Kp = 1.7 (quiet). The database holds 20 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 Catalonia use the same planetary Kp, but the local impact is computed individually per coordinates.
How a magnetic storm may manifest in Catalonia: 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 Catalonia, geomagnetic latitude varies from 43.1° to 43.7°, with a mean of 43.2°. The northernmost city, Girona, gets aurora visibility opportunities first when Kp climbs; the 0.6° south-to-north spread is enough to put neighbouring cities into very different storm-response groups.
The nearest magnetic observatory tracking conditions over Catalonia is Lviv. 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 Spain.