February 2025

February 22nd

• Guests / Country: 16 guests from Austria, Germany, Taiwan, China, UK and USA.
• Weather Tromsø: .
• Deastination / weather: .
• Aurora activity: /10.
• Aurora show: .
• Visible for the naked eyes: .
• Tour km: .
• Tour hrs: .

February 21st

• Guests / Country: 16 guests from Switzerland, China, UK and USA.
• Weather Tromsø: Cloudy.
• Deastination / weather: Rostavatnet lake / part clear / clear.
• Aurora activity: 9/10.
• Aurora show: All over and far south, spikes, curls and intense dancing curtains and coronas in three colors.
• Visible for the naked eyes: Green, yellow and pink.
• Tour km: 265.
• Tour hrs: 7,5.

Such a crazy beautiful and intense Kp ZERO Aurora show !!

Are you concern about the low Kp index ?

It`s no matter if you`ve been so smart to visit Tromsø and Northern Norway where we live under the Aurora Oval at location Kp zero ... so, Kp index is not only a question about low or high Aurora activity, but also location and how far south you can see the Northern Lights ...

The facts: Tromsø Kp 0 - Rovaniemi Kp 3 - Oslo Kp 5 - Germany / UK Kp 7 - Spain / Italy Kp 8

The weather didn`t looks so funny when we left the city, and I am not sure what my guests was thinking, since most of them are too quiet ... but, we try at least to let them know that every night will go well and you`ll probably see the Northern Lights this night too ... as long you`ve enough patience and good faith.

At least the weather forecast was showing clear sky should arrive from the south later in the evening, so we hope that was right ... and therefore we headed south ...

I was thinking about to drive far south, about 200 km where some of the sky cameras showed partly clear, but when we was coming about 110 km south I got a message from a colleague that it was 30% clear at last night location, in Dividalen valley, so I turn around and headed east instead.

And the clouds began to break up and several stars was visible ...

Instead of heading up in the same valley I choosed to drive to one of the most beautiful locations I knew about, where not so many other guides are visiting ...

I am selling silence ... since "Silence is the new luxury" so I like to bring my guests somewhere I can be alone with my guests out in the wilderness ...

When we arrived it was too much clouds towards north, but Lady Aurora was visible all over, also towards south ... and then after 20 mins it was clearing up all over.

I set camp fire and served, and then we got a crazy beautiful show twice with three colors visible in an intense dancing curtains and coronas.

The show wasn`t over, but since I was knocked after the long drive and late (read: early) the night before, I decided to leave little earlier ...

February 20th

• Guests / Country: 16 guests from Austria, Switzerland, Taiwan, China and USA.
• Weather Tromsø: Cloudy / rain.
• Deastination / weather: Dividalen valley / cloudy / clear / part clear.
• Aurora activity: 4/10. (we missed probaly a 7-8/10 show in the clouds)
• Aurora show: Several stripes across, spikes and curls. Three colors on camera.
• Visible for the naked eyes: Bright green.
• Tour km: 300.
• Tour hrs: 8,5.
• Space show: One long fireball.
• Wildlife: One moose, a fox and a white rabbit (hare).

It`s pity ... just before the evening best show the clouds came in and destroyed our great view ...

Tonight I decided to leave the main path towards Finland where most of the guides went ... as normal ... since I had followed some new sky cameras we have got in this valley, which has showed clear sky while the weather forecast showed overcast ...

It was a question of patience tonight, since there was no sign of any activity, so I had to teach my guests patience, but I was also little worry, since it was totally quiet on our very good Aurora forecast, so we just had to wait and see ...

We arrived the valley just before 10 pm and it was overcast, but when I checked the cameras it still showed a lots of stars towards SW, so I drove further up in the valley closer the cameras position, and it was lovely with this clear spot with a lots of bright stars ...

Then I had done my job; found clear sky for my guests ... but, we have no control of what Lady Aurora do.

Suddenly, just after 5-10 mins the sky got totally clear with billions of stars visible; it`s magic and that`s the beauty with no moon light ... the milky way was visible too ;)

After an hour waiting and shooting pics of the valley, surroundings mountains, the clear sky with the stars, and little light pollution from the village 30 km further down, up in the small clouds which was there ... then we begin to get a red spike of Aurora, then little green ... before it went quiet again.

And then I saw on the forecast, it should come little activity just before midnight, and then it showed even more ... lovely, and then we had to stay to 1 am for get that one ... since I had a guest who asked for move her chase since it`s only showed Kp 1 ... but, as I and other guides are trying to tell everyone;

"The Kp index is no matter, when you already had decided to visit The Northern Lights District where we live under the Aurora Oval at Kp zero !"

We got an lovely beginning of the show, and then suddenly the clouds covered the whole sky ... please check all pics of the night at my Facebook page >

On our way back to the city, it begin a new show around 2.30 am and we had clear sky 60-35 km south of Tromsø, but then my night shift was over ... I got back home at 5.30 am ...

February 16th - Private Aurora Chase

• Guests / Country: 4 guests from Hong Kong.
• Weather Tromsø: Cloudy / snow.
• Deastination / weather: Laksvatn / Oteren / Kitdalen / Hatteng / gaps in clouds / part clear / haze / clear.
• Aurora activity: 6/10.
• Aurora show: All over and far south, curls, spikes and little dancing curtains.
• Visible for the naked eyes: Little green.
• Tour km: 240.
• Tour hrs: 8.

6 stops for Aurora !

Not often I am giving my guests so many stops, but the weather was tricky and the Aurora activity high, so I had to be sure that they got to see the Northern Lights when we had the chance.

The private chase was postponed from the night before, since it`s was too heavy snowing then and I am soooo tired of driving in this bad weather conditions ...

First plan was to head far south towards the Magic island of Senja where the weather forecast first was best, but I am always following the web and sky cameras further east, when I am leaving the city just in case.

And when it showed perfectly clear and great Aurora there, I changed my plan 70 km south of the city and headed east instead of south, with success ... just pity that I choose to stop twice before we arrival the best location, so we missed some of the best.

Then we even missed tonight`s best show with 15 mins, since I decided to check out Skibotn and closer to the Finnish border, so after a chat with a colleague at the gas station we decided to return to Storfjord ...

Got little bit more there, but then the clouds and haze took over the sky ... but, when we should leave, then the sky got clear again, and more activity was on the way, so we had to make a couple of more stops, since I always want to give my guests much more.

Very tired on the return, since it has been six chases the last 8 nights ...

February 14th

• Guests / Country: 7 guests from Germany, Australia and UK.
• Weather Tromsø: Clear.
• Deastination / weather: Ersfjordbotn View / Kattfjord / clear / partly incoming clouds.
• Aurora activity: 7/10.
• Aurora show: All over and far south, curls, spikes and dancing curtains in two colors. A small corona.
• Visible for the naked eyes: Green and little pink, plus faint red.
• Tour km: 65.
• Tour hrs: 5,5.

I was quite knocked after the long drives from last nights chases, so I decided me for do it short tonight for my three guests who joined me on the nice offer I gave them after the no show chase the night before ... but, then one of my guests "hijacked" four british tourists outside the Arctic Cathedral, who liked to join a chase, so thanks for that, Elizabeth ;)

The sky was perfectly clear all over, so I just made the first stop at one of the most popular viewing point 20 km west of the city, with an amazing view over Ersfjorden and the surrounding mountains ...

I was planned to shoot the pics we first used for marketing Tromsø as one of the best Aurora destinations in the world, but the activity was too good and the Lady went far south ... so, when a 50 seats bus destroyed the magic moment with too many people around, then we left to an better, dark and silence location where I knew that not many other guides or rental cars are driving, so we could be in peace ... and I could do what I like to do best; Give my lovely guests silence ;)

And it was good planned move, then I went over to Kattfjord and not the first planned drive to the south part of Kvaløya island, through too long distance in street lights ... since in the same moment I stopped the best and I got my guests outside, tonight`s best show started on the south sky ...

Then the forecasted clouds arrived and destroyed our sky, but I saw a small gaps coming from NE, so I went on a short sightseeing tour with my guests couple of km further out for showing the old fishery story they have in Kattfjord and at Lauklines and Tulleng Jetty`s, where I lived in my first years in Tromsø, after being headhunted up here in 2003.

When we returned to the same spot the sky was lovely clear, but the Lady had ended her performance so we had some good chats with hot drinks and local snacks around the camp fire ... and since I should do it short we returned just before midnight.

On my drive back home around 1 am she got active again ...

February 13th

• Guests / Country: 15 guests from Norway, Germany, France, Australia, Taiwan and China. 
• Weather Tromsø: Cloudy.
• Deastination / weather: Altevatnet lake / cloudy / part clear.
• Aurora activity: 0/10.
• Aurora show: Just a glimpse in some gaps.
• Visible for the naked eyes: Little white.
• Tour km: 400.
• Tour hrs: 8,5.

2 seconds Aurora in a tiny gap ...

It`s pity, since everything looks perfect for a new great night out with my guests, since the sky was 100% clear further south, but when we arrived it was too late ... the clouds came in little too fast from the north ...

While we was heading south I had to plan in a quick toilet break at the right moment, since the Aurora forecast showed the activity should begin just before 9 pm ... and I missed that calulation with only 10 mins ...

It`s pity that I didn`t stopped for check the sky for some gaps when it started ... since it was probably a very great show we maybe could get little of in some gaps in the clouds, but I was too keen to came in front of the cloud front, so I just pressed on.

160 km south of the city in Setermoen, I understood it was too late ... so, I continued 40 km more to the end of the road, which was my first planned destination, at a lake close to the Swedish border.

And there we was quite lucky, since the small gaps got suddenly super clear from east to west, a perfect sky for see the Northern Lights, but Lady Aurora was quiet while we had that good opening.

And then when we should leave at midnight, the evening 2nd great show started, but then we had lost our beautiful clear sky, and just got to see a glimpse of it ... bright, but very little ...

On the way down from the mountain valley it began to snow heavily, but 80 km south of the city we got little clear sky again, but then tonight`s show was over ...

Tonight`s facit: We should start the chase one hour earlier ...

So, I decided to quit my night off and give my guests a nice offer: 50% discount for an new chase the next night ;)

February 12th

• Guests / Country: 16 guests from Germany, Malaysia, Australia and China. 
• Weather Tromsø: Part clear.
• Deastination / weather: Balsfjord / Heia / Bardufoss / part clear / clear / incoming clouds.
• Aurora activity: 9/10.
• Aurora show: All over and far south, curtains, spikes, intense dancing and couple of colorful coronas.
• Visible for the naked eyes: Green, pink and yellow.
• Tour km: 270.
• Tour hrs: 7.
• Space show: A bright white fireball.

KABOOM !!

Such a crazy beautiful and intense Rock`n`Roll dancing with three colors visible for the naked eyes, especial the 2nd show, which I also filmed with my iPhone Pro Max, but I did a mistake and didn`t captured the last and best one ... it`s pity, but part of the game.

The sky was partly clear on the coast, but with incoming clouds I didn`t took the chance to make a short one, so we headed south ... first a stop in Balsfjord along the main road E6 where we got a faint start, but at our 2nd stop The Lady had already became much brighter ...

And we had`nt wait long before she danced wild all over the sky, and then she went quiet ... but, it didn`t last long, since she suddenly came back with a crazy show, such an amazing feeling in the body when you get to explore such a beauty and wild performance.

Then the clouds took over from the north, so we went further south to my last "top secret" spot away from all other guides and lights from villages ... but, the road was`nt cleared by the snow plow so it was tricky to climb the mountain, and when I parked I got stuck ...

So, I made camp fire ... served hot drinks and snacks ... and it came to a time of waiting for the next show closer to midnight ... some played in the snow and others had good chats around the camp fire ...

The clouds came again ... but, it cleared up just before midnight, but no Aurora was visible ... on our return drive back to the city the next show started, but then we was inside the clouds and snow ... but, I guess my guests was more than happy ;)

February 10th

• Guests / Country: 16 guests from Malaysia, Australia, China and USA. 
• Weather Tromsø: Cloudy / rain.
• Deastination / weather: Dividalen valley / Heia / part clear / 85% clear.
• Aurora activity: 5/10.
• Aurora show: Several spikes and curls, little curtains and strikes all over the sky. Ended with a dancing show all over at 1.15 am.
• Visible for the naked eyes: Bright green.
• Tour km: 280.
• Tour hrs: 9.
• Wildlife: One white rabbit (hare).

Tonight I choosed to follow my got feeling with success ;)

But, we missed the best show which happened just before we should stop ... at least, some of the guest saw it from the bus ...

I hoped of course it should continue, but it was a short one and when we finally stopped the great show was over ... and then I had to teach my guests our most important tool; Patience patience patience ...

Tonight all the other guides was follow the crowds and headed towards Finland, but crazy as I am some nights, I choosed to drive the opposite way, since my got feeling says so ...

But, 40 km before we arrived the valley I got little nervous since it was raining heavy and the roads got like a skating area ... it was 6 degrees plus ... the normal should be 20 minus in this area ... and rain on snowy roads will make it all very slippery ... so, I stopped and make some calls, and one of my colleague had seen in one of the guide forum, that there was already one guide in the same valley which reported about clear sky and Aurora on sky, so then I just had to continue.

And my got feeling was right; partly clear, and then very clear all evening. And the most lovely thing, we was alone (not sure where the pther guide was) in the valley, so that`s what I am selling; silence ;)

First I was planned to make it short, since I was knocked of the long drive and very late return home the night before, so I first planned to leave before midnight ... but, the Lady was shy and on just teasing mode, with little here and there all over the sky ...

And I really want to give my guests the little extra, and since the solar speed was around 600 km/s I knew something more should happen ... so, I postpone the leaving time to midnight, then +30 mins, then +30 mins ... and then we got some more just before 1 am ...

And of course, when I just had drove over the bridge, maybe 80 (!) meter, the 2nd great show started ... so, I stopped and pulled my guests off the bus again.

Then we got little more at Heia, 100 km south of Tromsø when we had a toilet stop.

An new late night; guests was back in the city at 4 am, and I was home at 5.30 am ... good morning ;)

So, after 19 Aurora seasons and over 2,100 nights out for finding clear sky for my guests, I still got nuts ... yeah, I am Aurora Addicted !

February 9th

• Guests / Country: 16 guests from France, Italy, Germany, Australia, Taiwan, China, UK and USA. 
• Weather Tromsø: Cloudy / rain.
• Deastination / weather: Finnish Lapland +40 km / gaps in south / 90% clear.
• Aurora activity: 8/10.
• Aurora show: All over and far south, spikes, curls and dancing curtains in two colors. Three colors on camera.
• Visible for the naked eyes: Green and little pink.
• Tour km: 390.
• Tour hrs: 8,5.

Back on the roads for chasing after a month "break" ... not really a break since I was out for a 14+7 days package tours, plus an short escape to south Norway for celebrate my mother`s birthday.

And it started with a long drive, into Finnish Lapland for the best clear sky ... but, when we arrived it was only a 20% gap on the south sky ... but, the activity was great so in the beginning the activity was in this gap ...

And then suddenly all sky got clear, and Lady Aurora performance was following after ... just perfect for me and my guests.

Should leave earlier, but when it`s good I just have to give my guests the little extra ... so, after a hard drive back to Norway through strong wind and blowing snow and couple of white off, when I didn`t saw the road, it was better conditions rest of the way back to the city which we arrived 3.30 am ... and I was home close to 5 am ... knocked I felt down in my bed ...

February 5th - 7 days Private Arctic Excursions

• Guests / Country: 2 guests from Singapore.
• Weather Lauklines, Kvaløya island: Cloudy / gaps in the clouds.
• Aurora activity: 2/10.
• Aurora show: Just a couple of spikes only.
• Visible for the naked eyes: Very faint white.
• Tour km: 0.
• Tour hrs: 5.

While I made a 6-course seafood meal for my guests, they had the job for check the sky ... it was first lovely clear towards south-west, but with only little activity we needed clear sky towards north and west.

Just after midnight it came some clear gaps that way, and little Aurora showed up.

Pics by my guest, Jesper Yee`s smartphone.

February 3rd - 7 days Private Arctic Excursions

• Guests / Country: 2 guests from Singapore.
• Weather Skjåholmen, Senja island: Clear.
• Aurora activity: 2/10.
• Aurora show: Just a very fain stripe low on the NW sky.
• Visible for the naked eyes: Grey / white.
• Tour km: 0.
• Tour hrs: 2.

After a day sightseeing along the highlights route of NW coast of Senja, and with a better lunch at Mefjord Brygge, we returned to our lovely apartment for relaxing.

And then while I prepare tonight`s dinner, and before and after we checked the sky several times, but Lady Aurora was quiet, and that`s very typical when the sky is beautiful clear ...

February 2nd - 7 days Private Arctic Excursions

• Guests / Country: 2 guests from Singapore.
• Weather Skjåholmen, Senja island: Clear.
• Aurora activity: 4/10.
• Aurora show: All over, several stripes, spikes and curls.
• Visible for the naked eyes: Faint grey, little green later.
• Tour km: 0.
• Tour hrs: 5.

My guests had the best luck after midnight, but then I had went to the bed ...

At the end of our 250 km drive from the Lyngen Alps, we got little Aurora but it was very faint on blue sky ... when we contined our drive with arrival at 18.00, probably one of the best "show" tonight appear, but we missed it ...

And when we went for dinner 19.30 it was little more, and probably the best show for tonight arrived around 21.00, while we was enjoying our dinner in the neighbor hotel ...

That`s the game, so next time we will take our dinner under the open sky ;)

February 1st - 7 days Private Arctic Excursions

• Guests / Country: 2 guests from Singapore.
• Weather Nord Lenangen, Lyngen Alps: Clear.
• Aurora activity: 7/10.
• Aurora show: All over and far south, curls, spikes and intense dancing curtains in two colors.
• Visible for the naked eyes: Green and pink.
• Tour km: 0.
• Tour hrs: 5.

After arriving Lyngen Alps and our accommodation for our two first nights at Xlyngen, in Nord Lenangen the night before in heavy rainy weather, wind and very icy roads the weather next day got so much better.

So, before and after our 3-course dinner we enjoyed the Northern Lights from the spot, on the jetty around our cabins, and we got a really nice show around 9 pm which was the best one during the evening.