The Aurora Borealis In Alaska - When To See
Best Months
The sky has to be dark which means the lights unfortunately can't be seen in summer. The best months are March and September; that's when there are: 1) frequent displays, 2) clear skies, and 3) generally mild weather.
Best Time Of Day
Start looking about an hour and a half after sunset. But peak auroral activity is between 10pm and 2am solar time. Solar time is 2.5 hours after clock time during daylight savings time (April through October) and 1.5 hours after during standard daylight time (November through March).
That means the best time for seeing the aurora during winter is 11:30pm-3:30 am with the peak at 1:30am. During spring and fall (September and March), the best time is 12:30am-4:30am, with the peak falling at 2:30am.
The Right Conditions
If it's clear and dark enough to see stars, there's a chance you'll be able to see the aurora. Get away from city lights and hope for a clear night-if there's a heavy overcast, you won't be able to see it. Partly cloudy skies? You have a chance, but it needs to be a strong aurora for you to see it. But even if the sky is crystal clear, auroral activity varies greatly from night to night.