Northern lights in February: the best sky in our data
Yellowknife is at its best, with 72% of nights usable. Tromsø sits at 48% of five-night stays, and the gap between places is wide.
- Best sky: Yellowknife
- 12 to 13 dark hours
- 12 places compared
Most reviewed tour in Yellowknife
Minibus tour
Northern Lights Trip
If no aurora shows: the listing does not say. Ask before booking.
from €75
See dates and price
Links go to Civitatis. Scores are Civitatis customer ratings. Check the listing for the current price and conditions.
Where to see the northern lights in February
Places are ordered by how often a five-night stay included at least one dark night with a usable sky.
See the full table
| Destination | Dark hours per night | Nights with a usable sky | At least one in 3 nights | At least one in 5 nights | At least one in 7 nights | Kp for overhead aurora | Night temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1YellowknifeCanada | 12.3 h | 94% | 98% | 99% | Kp 1 | -28 °C | |
| 2WhitehorseCanada | 12.3 h | 85% | 96% | 99% | Kp 3 | -16 °C | |
| 3FairbanksAlaska, USA | 12.4 h | 84% | 95% | 98% | Kp 2 | -17 °C | |
| 4KirunaSweden | 12.5 h | 65% | 80% | 87% | Kp 2 | -13 °C | |
| 5SaariselkäFinland | 12.5 h | 60% | 77% | 87% | Kp 2 | -13 °C | |
| 6AbiskoSweden | 12.5 h | 58% | 75% | 85% | Kp 2 | -12 °C | |
| 7RovaniemiFinland | 12.4 h | 58% | 74% | 84% | Kp 3 | -12 °C | |
| 8LeviFinland | 12.5 h | 52% | 68% | 79% | Kp 2 | -13 °C | |
| 9ReykjavíkIceland | 12.3 h | 52% | 67% | 76% | Kp 2 | 0 °C | |
| 10LuleåSweden | 12.4 h | 49% | 66% | 77% | Kp 3 | -9 °C | |
| 11AkureyriIceland | 12.4 h | 36% | 50% | 59% | Kp 2 | -7 °C | |
| 12TromsøNorway | 12.7 h | 36% | 48% | 56% | Kp 1 | -8 °C |
A usable sky means at least two dark hours in a row with half the sky or more free of cloud, over an area of about 110 km. It says nothing about solar activity, so it is not the chance of seeing the aurora. How we calculate this
What February is like
February's nights are 2.1 to 3.3 hours shorter than January's. Mid-month, the sun stays more than 10 degrees below the horizon for 12.7 hours in Tromsø, 12.5 in Abisko, 12.4 in Rovaniemi and Fairbanks, and 12.3 in Reykjavík and Yellowknife. Polar night is over, and the dark hours are still plentiful.
The cold has not eased. Mean air temperature during dark hours is -28C in Yellowknife, -17C in Fairbanks, -12C in Rovaniemi and Abisko, -8C in Tromsø and 0C in Reykjavík.
Where the sky is on your side
A usable night means at least two dark hours in a row with half the sky or more free of cloud, averaged over a satellite cell about 110 km across. In February 72% of Yellowknife nights qualified, the highest share of usable nights for any place in any month, and 98% of five-night stays there had at least one. Whitehorse follows on 96% and Fairbanks on 95%.
Those numbers invite a comparison with claims. Spectacular NWT says a three-night stay in the Northwest Territories gives a 98% chance, and Explore Fairbanks says more than 90% for three nights if you are out in the late evening. Neither publishes a dataset. Our three-night figures for the same month are 94% in Yellowknife and 84% in Fairbanks, and they measure sky, not sightings.
The European places are far behind. Kiruna is the best of them on 80%, then Saariselkä on 77%. Abisko has 75% and Rovaniemi 74%, essentially tied. Levi has 68%, Reykjavík 67% and Luleå 66%. Akureyri has 50% and Tromsø 48%, the weakest of the twelve.
How many nights to plan
Yellowknife gives 94% for three nights, 98% for five and 99% for seven, so extra nights add very little. Abisko gives 58%, 75% and 85%. Kiruna gives 65%, 80% and 87%. Tromsø gives 36%, 48% and 56%. Seven nights in Tromsø are still well short of three in Yellowknife. See the nights calculator for more.
Is it a good month to book a tour?
It is a good month for the sky, so the tour matters mostly as logistics. The cards below are for the month's top two places. The Yellowknife minibus trip is from EUR 74.82 per person for four hours (checked 5 October 2026) and states no policy for a night without aurora. The Whitehorse tour is from EUR 110.68 for four hours and offers a repeat if the lights do not appear. Book for your first night so a retry is possible, and read what happens if no aurora shows and whether a tour is worth it.
Tours in the best-placed destinations for February
The two places with the most usable nights this month, with what each listing says about a night without aurora.
Whitehorse
Minibus tour
Whitehorse Northern Lights Tour
If no aurora shows: second attempt offered.
If the lights don't appear during the tour, you can contact us, and we'll offer you the opportunity to repeat the tour.
from €111
See dates and price
Common questions
Can you see the northern lights in February?
Yes. In February 98% of five-night stays in Yellowknife and 95% in Fairbanks had at least one usable night. Whether the aurora is active is separate and not covered by these figures.
Is February or March better for the northern lights?
February for most places. Yellowknife is 98% against 95%, Fairbanks 95% against 92%, Abisko 75% against 69%, Reykjavík 67% against 60% and Tromsø 48% against 31%. The exceptions are in Lapland: Rovaniemi (74% against 82%), Kiruna (80% against 87%), Levi and Saariselkä.
How cold is it in February?
Mean air temperature during the dark hours is 0C in Reykjavík, -8C in Tromsø, -12C in Rovaniemi and Abisko, -17C in Fairbanks and -28C in Yellowknife.