Aurora hunting expeditions in Levi

Aurora Borealis, commonly known as the Northern Lights, is a natural phenomenon that occurs in the night sky, particularly in the polar regions such as Finnish Lapland. Levi is one the best destinations in the world to see the Northern lights.

The Northern Lights are considered one of nature’s most extraordinary spectacles. People from around the world travel to Finnish Lapland to witness this phenomenon. It can be a magical and surreal experience that leaves observers with lifelong memories.

Lapland is a region uniquely situated in the Aurora Oval, a prime location for spotting the Northern Lights. Its pristine landscapes, untouched by urbanization, offer optimal conditions for observing auroras. Away from light pollution, the dark and clear winter nights provide perfect conditions for the Aurora Borealis to showcase its beauty.

The season to see the Northern Lights in Levi is from September to early April. During this period, the nights are long and dark, providing optimal conditions for viewing the Aurora. February, and March are particularly favorable for witnessing the Northern Lights. These months tend to have clearer skies and less cloud cover, increasing the chances of seeing the Aurora Borealis.

People often ask how often we see auroras in Levi. The answer is not simple. During the last season, on our Northern lights tours we saw them about 50 times in total in about five months. In theory, auroras happen around 100-130 times per year in Levi. The clouds make the real number lower. Some weeks we see them almost nightly and other weeks only once. When a prolonged low-pressure weather system brings thick clouds to Lapland, it can result in an entire week without any Northern lights sightings.

The Aurora experience can vary greatly each night. Some nights, we might only see faint lights low in the sky near the northern horizon. But on other nights, we get a fantastic show with the sky filled with bright green colors and hints of pink. Strong auroras can really light up the scene, even the snow glows in green light sometimes.

The duration of the light show also changes. Sometimes we have to wait patiently, and the Northern lights only appear for about ten minutes. Other nights, they can be active for hours. There is often a cycle where the lights come and go, being visible for 15-20 minutes, then fading away for around thirty minutes to one hour. The strongest and most impressive moment lasts only for a few minutes. Any rules about this are impossible to make, as the auroras are always unpredictable.

Some people say that the polar lights are better when it is extremely cold temperature. Our experience tells us this is not true. Whether it’s -30 degrees Celsius or around zero, the appearance of the auroras remains the same. What is true, is that on really cold nights the sky tends to be clear and we do see the auroras. On relatively warm nights, when it is around -5 celsius, the sky is more often cloudy.

For an optimal experience, consider visiting Levi during a new moon phase when the nights are darker. In other words: when the moon is small. The absence of a full moon ensures minimal light interference, allowing the Northern lights to shine brighter and with greater intensity.

There are nightly Aurora activity forecasts, but they are not reliable. Auroras can appear any night. Years of experience has shown us that a low activity forecast does not matter that much, it is often worth going out, especially if it is your only chance to join a Northern lights tour in Levi.

The real aurora activity level is a matter of luck, but we try to arrange your aurora tour on a high activity forecast night if possible. When the forecasts are right and solar winds are strong, it is a night to remember. 

Geomagnetic storms occur when exceptionally strong solar winds reach our atmosphere. During the last aurora season, such storms occurred approximately once per month.

In the upcoming season, we can expect geomagnetic storms to happen more frequently. This increase is attributed to the solar activity cycle, which is approaching its peak in the next few years. The solar activity cycle is an approximately 11-year cycle during which the Sun’s magnetic field reverses and peaks in activity.