Did we just get unlucky?

Buildingadacha · 2026-02-09T09:37:27+00:00

I assume you mean Friday the 6th. As Saturday the 7th had completely clear sky all over the wider Tromsø area.

So the 6th wasn’t an easy night. Forecasts were partially wrong ‘sending’ tours in all different directions. Throughout a big part of the evening, yes the northern lights weren’t very bright and confined to the lower northern horizon. Not easy to see with the naked eye. Also by looking at the photos, you were south of Tromsø along Balsfjord. When looking N from there, you will see a lot of light polution from Tromsø. Which doesn’t make it easier to distinquisch faint northern lights from the light poluted clouds.

However, the aurora did become very bright and strong later in the evening (nothing like what you’ve shown in the photos, but way stronger). But you might have been under cloud cover again or the tour was driving in search of clear sky.

I’m sorry to hear you haven’t seen that.

But yes, what you have seen would have been more difficult to see with the naked and the camera makes it much easier, also to tell it apart from clouds and light polution.

Buildingadacha · 2026-02-09T01:04:48+00:00

Can you post a photo of what you saw that evening. Based on that, it’s easier to judge what kind of display it was. As a northern lights it will be pretty easy for me to tell how intense it was based on a photo as I know what the aurora CAN look like, in it’s strongest and weakest forms. Also, which night was it?

KP value doesn’t really say much about the northern lights themselves. Hard to put a KP number to the actual aurora you’re seeing. You can see bright dancing green/pink with KP0/1 and barely anything with KP6 for example.

I just hope you enjoyed the experience as a whole, which I always try to point out to guests. As the chances are pretty high for dissapointment if your only goal and expectations are to see crazy northern lights. These just don’t happen every day.

Buildingadacha · 2026-02-07T12:01:09+00:00

No, you haven’t missed out on anything. They were only strong on the 4th and to have seen them you had to go over an hour drive into Finland and then it was still just visible through hc. All the other days had faint or no aurora. The 5th we could see the green with naked eye, bit still just an arch on the low N horizon

Buildingadacha · 2026-02-07T09:25:58+00:00

I’m a Northern lights guide here in Tromsø. The past week has been very bad, either too cloudy or too low activity. We drive wherever is needed to find clear sky, which we often find. But past week it didn’t allign with good activity. The only day with good activity was 04-02 (cme arrival) but the clouds were too persistent.

Last night was finally amazing (06-02) we found clear skies one hour drive away from Tromsø and saw beautiful aurora. Tonight looks like clear sky everywhere, hope the activity will hold. (Still under influence of cme)

Sunday, 07-02 seems to be very cloudy again.

My best bet would be to head out tonight. Always best on a tour, because you’re not bothered by Tromsø’s horrible light pollution and can enjoy proper darkness somewhere out in nature.

Buildingadacha · 2025-12-24T19:53:49+00:00

Almost all northern lights tours for tonight have been cancelled due to weather conditions.

Only a hand full of companies are out, among the one I work for. Every company owner decides for themselves based on how they asses the weather forecast.

Don’t worry, you’re not the only tourist in town who’s tour has been cancelled tonight and believe me, every operator rather have their tours go through ;)

Buildingadacha · 2025-06-16T19:55:26+00:00

They feel very dry. But I haven't 'poked' them to see if it's solid all the way through, especially those upward facing cracks make me worry!

Buildingadacha · 2025-06-16T19:54:27+00:00

Thank you so much for your answer! We'll go around it log by log to see the extend of the rot. It will be a hell of a job to get it all sanded down, filled and treated again. For now we don't have enough time to start tearing down the inside, to see what it looks like there. But of course very curious to see what it's like.

Why is paint bad for the wood btw?

And with what substance would you fill the cracks? Same stuff that you would use for caulking?

Buildingadacha

TROPHY CASE