Published 2026-09-20
When
The aurora season in Levi runs from the end of August to the first days of April. It is not the cold that matters but the dark: as soon as the nights are properly black again in late August, the lights are back. The statistically strongest months are September–October and February–March, when the geomagnetic activity peaks around the equinoxes and the skies are often clearer than in mid-winter.
Where to look from the chalet
Chalet Nulkka sits at the forest edge on the north-east side of the Levi fell, away from the lights of the centre. The terrace faces west and the sky opens over the trees. On a clear night, step out to the terrace or the parking area, give your eyes five minutes, and look north to north-west. The green arc usually appears low on the horizon first and then climbs.
If you want a wider horizon, walk 300 metres to the ski-bus stop where the road opens up, or take the car ten minutes to the shore of Lake Immeljärvi.
Apps and forecasts
- Aurora Alert Realtime (free, Finnish) sends a push notification when activity is measured at the nearby observatories.
- Finnish Meteorological Institute space weather page shows the magnetometer readings for Sodankylä.
- Check the cloud forecast first. A KP index of 2 is enough this far north if the sky is clear; a KP of 6 does nothing under cloud.
Practical
Dress warmer than you think. Standing still at −20 °C is very different from skiing at −20 °C. The sauna is a good place to warm up between attempts, and the fireplace keeps the living room ready for the next alert.