Weather Info
To see the aurora, you need to have clear skies, or an opening in the clouds. Sometimes, color may be seen through the clouds. Cameras may pick up more green through the clouds, with long exposure or more sensitive lens.
Quick look Alaska Weather Quick look Canada and Europe Weather
If someone sees the aurora near you (same city area) then you can see it too. You do not have to drive to their location. Since the aurora is well above the earth, you will have the same view as the other person. If you cannot see it, there may be these issues: trees or buildings blocking your view, streetlights hindering the view, the event is over with (for now), or you are facing the wrong direction.
The aurora is much higher than any earth weather. The aurora is never below the clouds. Aurora is at minimum 60 miles above the earth in the atmosphere. When viewing the aurora, it does appear close! That shows that it is very big in size.
If it is cloudy where you are, you can “chase” the aurora by driving to an area that has clearer skies. Some tour guides have been known to drive several hours in one direction to escape the poor weather. Many times when the weather is overcast for hundreds of miles, tour guides will cancel. They are the pros and decide where to go every night.
Here are some weather website and/or app suggestions to help you plan:
AccuWeather
Astrospheric
ClearDarkSky.com
Cloud Free Night Australia and New Zealand
Dark Sky Weather
Meteox Europe
MyRadar Weather
NOAA Weather
Sat24
WeatherBug
Windy.com
Wunderground
US Air Net USA and Canada
ClearDarkSky.com cloud mapping for Canada and USA (live examples below)
North Pole, Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska
Whitehorse, Yukon
Hatcher Pass, AlaskaAstropheric shows clouds and terrain, it is perfect for helping you see aurora.