Is it possible to see the northern lights in April or August?
The short answer is yes it is possible.
This article will help you to get the right expectations:
April & August are magical months in Tromsø, with longer days, milder temperatures, and often beautifully covered in snow. But when it comes to chasing the northern lights, it comes with a few challenges.
At this time of year, the Arctic is quickly transitioning into summer during April, (and into winter during August), which means that a lot more daylight is present. Every 4 days Tromso gets almost one extra hour of daylight in April – can you imagine that? Its like trying to go see the sunset one day and one week after it happens more than an hour earlier. The change of the seasons in Tromsø happens quite fast and is quite dramatic.
The extended daylight hours will then reduce the window of darkness needed to see the auroras clearly.
Pros:
- Milder weather makes it more comfortable to be outside. But don’t underesttimate your winter dresscode.
- Unique opportunity to see the landscape while we drive to a suitable spot.
- Fewer crowds on tours and in town.
Cons:
- Limited dark hours mean fewer chances to spot the lights.
- Auroras may appear faint or not at all due to twilight conditions.
Honest opinion:
The photos above were taken in the 2nd and 3rd week of April. As you can see the intensity is not as strong as during the dark season.
We believe in transparency with our customers. That’s why we continue to offer tours during the shoulder season only for customers who really want to try during this period. Especially travelers who have come all the way here hoping for a chance, even late or early in the season.
And we also offer free cancellation if you decide not to join the tour up to 24h before departure. (This applies for August and April only – where the daylight is more significant).
Whether you decide to join the tour or not, we’re here to help you make the most of your trip to Tromsø during late Easter holiday!