Short answer: seeing the Northern Lights when it’s cloudy is unlikely, but not impossible. In most cloudy conditions the lights are effectively hidden, but a thin break or partial clearing can reveal them, especially if solar activity is strong and local weather fluctuations open a viewing hole. What affects visibility

• Cloud cover: High or thick clouds block the view; only gaps or thin, broken clouds allow glimpses. Even strong auroras can be invisible beneath a fully overcast sky.

• Local weather patterns: The aurora occurs high above the ground, while low-level clouds sit in between—clear or partly clear pockets can appear even when broader conditions look cloudy.

• Solar activity: Higher activity (Kp index) increases the potential brightness, which can help visibility when there are small breaks in cloud cover. But cloudiness can override even strong activity.

• Viewing location and timing: Places with historically clearer nights or microclimates (e.g., certain inland areas vs. coastal regions) improve odds. Tours often chase gaps in clouds to maximize chances.

Practical tips if clouds are present

• Check short-term forecasts and live sky cameras for gaps in the overcast layer.
• Be prepared to be mobile: aurora tours will move to where skies are clearer, sometimes chasing holes in clouds.

• Use longer exposure photography to maximize any faint glow when clouds thin momentarily or when aurora activity is strong.

Bottom line

• Cloudy skies dramatically reduce the chance of seeing the aurora; if overcast is extensive, expect low odds. Partial clearing or thin clouds may still yield a sighting, especially with active solar conditions and proactive chasing by observers.