The Northern Lights in Helgeland

In Helgeland, we witness the Northern Lights every winter, between August and April. It’s an amazing experience to see the heavenly dance of the aurora borealis! But to catch this performance requires good planning and a bit of luck. If you hope to see the Northern lights while you are in Helgeland, here are some good tips

The vast expanses of mountain wilderness and the long and pristine Helgeland coast give us many ideal places from which to see the Northern Lights. You need a viewpoint with minimal light pollution, well away from the towns and villages. Since most of Helgeland is south of the Arctic Circle, our days are usually brighter here, even during the Arctic Night. This gives you the perfect opportunity to enjoy activities such as skiing, snowshoeing, dog-sledding and winter kayaking during the day, while hopefully catching the Northern Lights in the evening.

What exactly are the Northern Lights

The Northern Lights occur when charged particles thrown out from the sun’s corona break through Earth’s magnetic field and into our atmosphere. This usually happens where our magnetic field is weakest, near the poles. When the charged particles from the solar winds react with oxygen and nitrogen high up in our atmosphere, you can see green, red and purple light dance across the sky.

When can you see the Northern Lights?

The best time to “hunt” the Northern Lights is between October and March. On the long, dark winter nights you are far more likely to see the aurora borealis. Strictly speaking, the Northern Lights are periodically active throughout the year, even in summer, but due to the competing daylight they are almost invisible. As the midnight sun comes to an end, we usually see the first Northern Lights in late August. From then on we have the pleasure of seeing the aurora borealis at irregular intervals until the nights become too bright again in the spring, in early April.

However, this performance is not an everyday occurrence. You need a good weather forecast of clear skies, as well as a good Northern Lights forecast. Yes, there really is such a thing! You can download an app such as My Aurora Forecast, or websites like this one. The popular Norwegian weather forecaster Yr.no is planning to add a Northern Lights forecast to its website, so soon you will have both forecasts in one convenient place.

Where can you see the Northern Lights?

You may see the Northern Lights throughout Helgeland, from Bindal and Brønnøysund in the south to Saltfjellet and Meløy in the north. And it isn’t necessarily the case that you will have a better experience the further north you go. Light pollution and weather conditions also play an important role.

Yes, you might be lucky and see dramatic Northern Lights that overpower all the artificial lighting if you’re staying in town somewhere. But you will have a much better chance of experiencing the phenomenon if you go out to one of the islands, or head for the mountains, for instance near the Wilderness Road (Villmarksveien), or hike in or near one of our national parks.

Tips for travellers who want to see the Northern Lights:

• Check the northern lights forecast. The forecast can predict activity up to 27 days ahead. Anything from KP3 and above is promising.
• Look at the weather forecast. Clear skies are essential for seeing the aurora, so aim for nights with as few clouds as possible.
• Stay as long as you can. If you’re traveling a long way to see the northern lights, it’s best to plan a trip with as many nights as possible when activity is expected to be good. The longer you stay, the better your chances of catching the perfect combination of clear skies and strong auroras.
• Go where it’s dark. The farther you get from cities, towns, and streetlights, the better the view.
• Have access to a car or a guide. Being able to drive an hour or two in search of clear skies can make all the difference. Just make sure you’re rested enough to drive safely back afterward.
• Stay in your car or accommodation if it’s windy. The best aurora conditions often come with cold and dark nights. If strong winds add to the mix, it can be unsafe to wander too far unless you’re experienced and familiar with the area.
• Wear warm clothes and pack a hot drink. Even if the forecast predicts good auroras at 10 PM, they don’t always show up on schedule. Waiting outside in autumn or winter can be freezing, so wear plenty of warm layers and bring hot drinks. A sleeping bag can also be great to curl up in while you wait.
• Charge your phone and headlamp before you go. When you’re out late at night in the cold and dark, safety should always come first.

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