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Magnetic · Storms

Magnetic storms in Anchorage

Magnetic storms in Anchorage, Alaska today. Current Kp index, 3-day forecast for Anchorage, local time, geomagnetic latitude and aurora visibility chance.

0.3QUIET
Now
Quiet

Data as of 23 Aug, 20:42 (America/Anchorage).

Weather in Anchorage

Temperature
+17.7°C
Pressure
758.9mm Hg
1011.8 hPa
Cloud cover
8%
Humidity
59%
Wind
9.2 km/h
Sunrise
19:30
Sunset
10:34
Moon phase
waxing gibbous (84%)

Weather data: Open-Meteo (CC BY).

Local context

Local time
20:42 (UTC-8)
Latitude / longitude
61.218°, -149.900°
Geomagnetic latitude
61.9°
Population
289,600

Sensitivity · Anchorage

High sensitivity (sub-auroral zone)

Aurora visibility chance5%

Kp is a planetary index — the same globally. Local impact depends on geomagnetic latitude: the higher it is, the more noticeable the storm.

Auroraforecast for Anchorage

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Geomagnetic context for Anchorage

Max Kp in the last 7 days
5.3G1
Storm days (G1+) this week
2
Nearest magnetic observatory
Magadan (Stekolnyi)3128 km

Magnetic storm in Anchorage: 3-day Kp chart

Magnetic storm forecast (UTC-8)Magnetospherecalmunsettledstorm0123456789KpG1G2G3G4G508/1608/1708/18
Aurora forecast in Anchorage
  • Sun, Aug 23no data
    Max Kp: Moon: 73%Clouds: 51%
    Kp forecast is not yet available for this date.
  • Mon, Aug 240
    Max Kp: 1.7Moon: 82%Clouds: 97%
    Auroras are very unlikely tonight.
  • Tue, Aug 250
    Max Kp: 1.7Moon: 90%Clouds: 99%
    Auroras are very unlikely tonight.
  • Wed, Aug 2610
    Max Kp: 1.7Moon: 95%Clouds: 18%
    Low chance, only the strongest auroras will show.
  • Thu, Aug 275
    Max Kp: 1.7Moon: 99%Clouds: 55%
    Low chance, only the strongest auroras will show.
  • Fri, Aug 280
    Max Kp: 3.0*Moon: 100%Clouds: 99%
    Auroras are very unlikely tonight.
  • Sat, Aug 297
    Max Kp: 3.0*Moon: 99%Clouds: 78%
    Low chance, only the strongest auroras will show.
  • Sun, Aug 3011
    Max Kp: 3.0*Moon: 96%Clouds: 64%
    Low chance, only the strongest auroras will show.
  • Mon, Aug 3112
    Max Kp: 3.0*Moon: 91%Clouds: 64%
    Low chance, only the strongest auroras will show.
  • Tue, Sep 019
    Max Kp: 3.0*Moon: 84%Clouds: 74%
    Low chance, only the strongest auroras will show.
  • Wed, Sep 0231
    Max Kp: 3.0*Moon: 75%Clouds: 18%
    Possible if you are away from city lights.
  • Thu, Sep 0328
    Max Kp: 3.0*Moon: 65%Clouds: 34%
    Possible if you are away from city lights.
  • Fri, Sep 0415
    Max Kp: 3.0*Moon: 55%Clouds: 66%
    Low chance, only the strongest auroras will show.
  • Sat, Sep 050
    Max Kp: 3.0*Moon: 44%Clouds: 99%
    Auroras are very unlikely tonight.
  • Sun, Sep 0637
    Max Kp: 3.0*Moon: 34%Clouds:
    Possible if you are away from city lights.

* Days marked with an asterisk do not have a direct NOAA forecast yet. If we have observations from 27 days ago, we use Bartels recurrence (the Sun rotates roughly every 27 days, so active regions often return with the same period). When no history is available, we substitute a baseline value typical for the current solar cycle 25 peak (Kp 3.0). Accuracy is lower than the direct three-day forecast.

How the score works

The composite score combines three signals: how strong the storm needs to be at your geomagnetic latitude, how bright the moon will be (a full moon hides faint auroras), and how cloudy the sky will be that night. A score of 70 or higher is excellent, 45 to 70 is good, below 20 means you probably will not see anything.

Magnetic storms in Anchorage over the last 30 days

Geomagnetic storms of class G1 and above recorded over the past month. Times are shown in the city's local timezone (AKDT).

In Anchorage (geomagnetic latitude 61.9°), auroras are possible from Kp ≥ 3.

Class G1+ geomagnetic storms in Anchorage over the last 30 days
DatePeakMax KpLevelDurationAurora visible
19:005.0G13 hYes
10:005.3G13 hYes
19:005.0G13 hYes
Open full 30-day Kp chart

About magnetic storms in Anchorage

Magnetic storm in Anchorage today: planetary Kp = 0.3 (quiet). Over the last 7 days the maximum Kp above Anchorage reached 5.3 (G1); storm days (G1+) this week: 2.

Anchorage sits at geomagnetic latitude 61.9°. The nearest magnetic observatory continuously recording the field is Magadan (Stekolnyi), 3128 km away. Population 289,600.

Anchorage lies in the sub-auroral zone (61.9°), where storms are felt several times per year. At G3 and stronger, weather-sensitive residents may experience blood-pressure changes, headaches and sleep issues; pensioners and people with hypertension should watch the forecast. During a storm, drink more water, avoid alcohol and strong coffee, and reduce intense physical exertion.

Technical consequences for Anchorage (sub-auroral zone, 61.9°) appear from G4 upward: GPS and HF radio may degrade, precise positioning can drift, and northern power grids in the region carry a measurable GIC risk during the strongest events. Drivers on long routes should track the forecast for the next 24 to 72 hours. Source: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, updated every 10 minutes.

Over Anchorage during the last 24 hours. Kp reached a maximum of 2.3 around 16:00 local time and dipped to 0.7. The planetary trend over the past 6 hours is rising — conditions near Anchorage may intensify further. So far this month the planet has logged 2 days with a G1 or stronger geomagnetic storm.

Aurora visibility threshold for Anchorage. At a geomagnetic latitude of 61.9°, the minimum Kp giving a realistic chance of visible auroras above Anchorage is about Kp ≥ 3. The current equatorial Dst index is 0 nT — the magnetosphere is in a quiet phase. Dst complements Kp by showing how long and how deep a storm's main phase has been — useful context when checking whether auroras are likely tonight.

Weather and atmospheric pressure in Anchorage right now. Temperature +17.7°C, atmospheric pressure 758.9 mm Hg (1011.8 hPa), cloud cover 8%, humidity 59%, wind 9.2 km/h. During G1+ geomagnetic storms, swings in atmospheric pressure tend to amplify symptoms for weather-sensitive people: those with hypertension often notice blood-pressure spikes, and readings below 1000 hPa combined with Kp ≥ 5 frequently bring headaches and fatigue. That is why the Anchorage page shows both indicators side by side. Weather data from Open-Meteo (CC BY).

Aurora viewing window for Anchorage tonight. Sunset is at 10:34 local time, sunrise tomorrow at 19:30. Moon phase — waxing gibbous with 84% disk illumination. The Moon is close to full tonight, so moonlight will be strong and faint auroras will be harder to spot — wait for Kp ≥ 6 or pick a darker site..