As far as the Northern lights are concerned, those lucky enough to be in Iceland this spooky season are in for a treat (pun intended). On Saturday night, the Icelandic Meteorological Office predicts clear skies over Southwest Iceland, including Reykjanes Peninsula, Snæfellsnes Peninsula, and Reykjavík City.
Furthermore, the Icelandic Met Office predicts a Northern Lights forecast of seven out of nine on the KP index. This index measures the disturbance caused by solar winds to the Earth’s magnetic field. Quite simply, the more winds there are, the more Aurora activity is visible.
When is the best time to see the Northern Lights?
A major solar flare happened on Thursday, an event which can often lead to some amazing NorthernLights here on Earth. Solar flares are a sudden flash of increased brightness on the Sun. They happen all the time, but on Thursday , it was accompanied by a coronal mass ejection (CME) which is the release of plasma and accompanying magnetic field.
The input from solar material to the Earth’s atmosphere can cause a geometric storm which, in turn, can cause spectacular Northern Lights.
The peak time to witness the beautiful dancing lights is between 9 pm, and 2 am, perfect for creating a spooky setting for Halloween celebrations around Reykjavík. Several Halloween-themed parties are going on in bars and clubs downtown meaning that you can walk amongst the ghouls and ghosts accompanied by what appear to be phantom spirits twirling across the night sky.
Northern Lights Tours
If you are not spending the night dressed as a scary monster, we recommend you check out a Northern Lights Tour on Saturday. To best experience these phenomenal lights, you need darkness, and if you head out of Reykjavík, you’ll get plenty of it. By avoiding the light pollution of the city, you will have incredible views of the cosmos above, making for a better viewing experience overall
On a Northern Lights tour, a guide will take you to a great spot to witness this celestial display On top of that, they will show you the best means of photographing them, so make sure to bring your camera along with you.
Finally, be sure to dress warmly…perhaps not in a costume, but more something like a thick overcoat, beanie hat and pair of gloves? Hey, it’s your Halloween night, but if you want to enjoy the Aurora Borealis to its fullest, we think you might as well stay warm in the process.
