When Is The Best Time To See The Northern Lights In Alaska?

The verdict is in – the best month to visit Alaska for Northern Lights is March! During the early spring season, Alaska is blanketed in 12 hours of darkness each day. In addition, the month of March brings some of the highest aurora activity of the year. However, early spring can be rainy, so the trick is finding clear skies for your aurora-viewing adventure as you dodge rain clouds.

How To Predict A Northern Lights Showing

However, there is help available for the dedicated aurora hunter. If you want to see this natural light show, you can use the online Aurora Tracker to predict the probability of the Northern Lights making an appearance. The Aurora tracker analyzes three individual streams of data to predict Northern Lights viewing opportunities for six locations in the Fairbanks region of Alaska. The data includes the aurora forecast data from the University of Fairbanks, the weather forecast for specific viewing locations, and the amount of daylight hours for each day. By using a convenient app on your phone, you will be able to figure out if an aurora sighting is imminent!

Another way to predict the visibility of the Northern Lights is to use the Aurora Forecast from the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska at Fairbanks. Between these two online resources, savvy aurora hunters will be ready for a special nighttime show.

More Things To Do In Alaska In March!

March represents a time of new beginnings in Alaska. For Alaska Northern Lights, March is the best time to go. However, there are plenty of other things to do during the Month of March if you want to explore all that Alaska has to offer! Here are the top reasons to visit Alaska in March:

• March is the best month to visit Alaska to see the Northern Lights! Plus, the temperatures are much more tolerable than in the wintertime.
• Although the temperatures start to warm up in March, there are still plenty of winter activities to enjoy! You can still enjoy skiing and dogsledding if you visit in early spring.
• March is shoulder season! Traveling in Alaska during the early spring is less expensive than during peak travel season. Most hotels and vacation rentals are discounted during the winter and spring months, as are rental cars.
• If you’re into ice sculptures, March is the best time to visit Alaska – especially Fairbanks. In March, the World Ice Competition takes place, drawing artists from all over. Take a break from scanning the night skies and watch amazing art springing from the frozen ice!
• And our favorite – no bugs! Alaska in the summer months is heaven for mosquitoes. A great strategy for avoiding these nuisance creatures is to visit this great State when everything is frozen.

To see the Alaska Northern Lights, the best time to go is March. Another reason for this is that displays of the aurora borealis intensify around the equinox months of both September and March! This is because the Earth’s tilt in relation to the sun causes the magnetic field of the Earth to sync up with the sun’s solar winds. As long as the night skies are clear in March, this means your chances of seeing the Northern Lights are high!

Can You See The Northern Lights In November?

If visiting Alaska during the early spring is not an option for you, don’t worry – you can see the Northern Lights at many other times of the year. Alaska tours in November are still popular with aurora hunters. The month of November brings 16 hours of darkness to Alaska and the aurora activity holds steady at a moderate level for the duration of the month. With the nights getting longer as the month wears on, your viewing chances will increase – as long as you have clear skies!

Although November is not considered the best month to visit Alaska to see the Northern Lights, there is still a strong probability that you will spot the aurora during your visit. However, there are still plenty of things to do if you plan your Alaska tour in November. (As an added bonus, many things are cheaper in the off-season!) Here are a few of the things you can do in addition to chasing the Northern Lights:

• Alaskan Festivals – Alaskans love their festivals, and a good time to celebrate and gather together is when the days grow shorter. In November, you can participate in the Sitka Whale Festival or any one of the many annual Holiday Bazaars. You can visit the Bald Eagle Festival in Haines or stroll the grounds of the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage for its yearly festival of lights!
• Visit a Dog Sled Kennel – Alaska’s most famous event, the Iditarod, takes place in March. But you can visit the kennels of these amazing creatures in the off-season and learn about the sport of dog sledding from the teams’ handlers.
• Go skiing or snowboarding! If you’re looking for some outdoor winter fun, head to one of Alaska’s ski resorts or snowboard parks. Or go cross-country skiing or winter biking.
• Hunt for salmon – believe it or not, November is the best time to catch fresh salmon in Alaska’s many rivers and streams. (Just make sure to check on local fishing regulations before you head out.)
• Get some culture – if the weather outside is frightful, you can always head indoors to one of Alaska’s many cultural centers or museums.

The Wildlife In Alaska In November

You probably won’t see bears in Alaska in November (they are hibernating) or spot many birds (most have migrated to warmer climates for the winter). However, Alaska tours in November can take you on a hunt for moose and bald eagles. It’s also easy to spot the tracks of snowshoe hares, lynx, foxes, coyotes, weasels, and wolverines in the fresh snow. So while it is more difficult to see wildlife in Alaska in November, you still can. Also, don’t forget that the Alaska Zoo or the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center in Portage is a great place to see Alaskan animals if you don’t want to venture into the cold!

There’s no doubt that the best month to visit Alaska to see the Northern Lights is March, but there is still so much to do and see on Alaska tours in November. No matter when you decide to go, your Alaskan adventure is sure to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience! So, get packing – Alaska is calling.