The geomagnetic field over Timaru is quiet. The planetary Kp index is 0.3 — about 0.3 as effective local exposure at this latitude — and the next 72 hours should stay comfortable, peaking near Kp 3.0 around Sat 03:00 PM local time.
Timaru sits at geomagnetic latitude -47.8° — and that latitude, not the city itself, decides how strongly a storm is felt: we estimate local exposure at ×1 of the planetary Kp. Auroras become plausible here from about Kp 8. All times on this page are shown in Timaru local time (UTC+12).
Data: NOAA SWPC · GFZ Potsdam
Official 3-hour NOAA windows relabelled to Timaru's clock (UTC+12). The curve is planetary — the local feel scales with latitude.
Forecast peak Kp 3 around Jul 18, 03 PM.
When to get things done and when to rest. The marker shows now (21:00).
Official NOAA Kp forecast with a general wellbeing-risk estimate for weather-sensitive people.
Two local estimates: aurora visibility and general wellbeing impact.
Auroras become plausible over Timaru from about Kp 8 — the auroral oval has to expand down to geomagnetic latitude -47.8°.
Best night this week: Friday (≈2% by the daily forecast).
Best around local midnight — look north, away from city lights. Chances are an estimate from the planetary Kp peak and latitude.
A comfortable window. Good time for demanding tasks, workouts and travel plans.
General population-level guidance, not medical advice. Reactions are individual — a symptom diary shows what actually affects you.
Same storm, slightly different latitude — open a neighbouring page for its local timing and aurora odds.
No — the field is quiet. Kp is 0.3 right now, and the next 72 hours peak near Kp 3.0 around Sat 03:00 PM local time. Kp 5 or higher would count as a storm.
Sometimes. Timaru is at geomagnetic latitude -47.8°, so the southern lights become plausible from about Kp 8. Tonight's estimated chance is 2% — best around local midnight, away from city lights.
The Kp index itself is planetary — one number for the whole Earth. What changes is how strongly a place feels it: at Timaru's geomagnetic latitude (-47.8°) we estimate the effective exposure at about ×1 of the planetary value.
Research is mixed, but many weather-sensitive people report headaches, fatigue or restless sleep during elevated activity. It is a possible correlation, not a diagnosis — the forecast above shows when the sensitive windows are, and a symptom journal shows whether they matter for you.
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