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Northern Lights in the US Tonight

Track tonight's northern lights forecast across 1593 locations in the United States. Alaska often sits under the auroral oval, while the lower 48 usually need a stronger geomagnetic storm, clear skies and a dark northern horizon.

Tonight's US decision

Northern Lights Forecast Across the United States Tonight

Compare Alaska, the Upper Midwest and the Pacific Northwest, then open a forecast near you. These three places show how viewing conditions differ; they are examples, not a verdict for the whole country.

Kp / G scale
Kp 2.0 · G0
Fresh
Observed 14 Oct, 12:00 UTC
IMF Bz
2.6 nT
Fresh
Northward · less favourable

Location-level decision bands

Compare the place you can actually reach

Northern HemisphereChecked 14 Oct, 16:06 UTC

Fairbanks

Kp 1–3
Activity
Kp 2.0Within the local guideFresh
Local sky
100% cloudFresh
Darkness
Twilight — wait for a darker sky

Decision confidence: medium

How to read these numbers

AACGM-v2 magnetic latitude 64.9°N

Medium — verified AACGM coordinate and fresh planetary Kp; the local band remains approximate

NOAA planetary K index · Fresh · observed 14 Oct, 12:00 UTC

Cloud · Fresh · cache refreshed 14 Oct, 15:30 UTC
MET Norway Locationforecast (cached by Aurora Hunt) ↗

Calculated solar altitude -4.0° · 14 Oct, 16:06 UTC

AACGM-v2 2.7.1 ↗ · epoch 2026-09-04 · 0 km

Check the live forecast for Fairbanks

Duluth

Kp 5–7
Activity
Kp 2.0Below the local guideFresh
Local sky
94% cloudFresh
Darkness
Daylight — aurora is not observable

Decision confidence: medium

How to read these numbers

AACGM-v2 magnetic latitude 55.6°N

Medium — verified AACGM coordinate and fresh planetary Kp; the local band remains approximate

NOAA planetary K index · Fresh · observed 14 Oct, 12:00 UTC

Cloud · Fresh · cache refreshed 14 Oct, 15:15 UTC
MET Norway Locationforecast (cached by Aurora Hunt) ↗

Calculated solar altitude 30.3° · 14 Oct, 16:06 UTC

AACGM-v2 2.7.1 ↗ · epoch 2026-09-04 · 0 km

Check the live forecast for Duluth

Seattle

Kp 5–7
Activity
Kp 2.0Below the local guideFresh
Local sky
38% cloudFresh
Darkness
Daylight — aurora is not observable

Decision confidence: medium

How to read these numbers

AACGM-v2 magnetic latitude 52.5°N

Medium — verified AACGM coordinate and fresh planetary Kp; the local band remains approximate

NOAA planetary K index · Fresh · observed 14 Oct, 12:00 UTC

Cloud · Fresh · cache refreshed 14 Oct, 15:30 UTC
MET Norway Locationforecast (cached by Aurora Hunt) ↗

Calculated solar altitude 15.1° · 14 Oct, 16:06 UTC

AACGM-v2 2.7.1 ↗ · epoch 2026-09-04 · 0 km

Check the live forecast for Seattle

Kp bands are magnetic-latitude screening ranges, not probabilities. Cloud, darkness and your view of the horizon still decide whether you can see a display.

What this means for tonight

Fairbanks can have opportunities during modest activity. Duluth and Seattle usually need more expansion of the auroral oval. Check the local sky as well as Kp: cloud and daylight can prevent a view even during a strong storm.

Solar wind / IMF Bz · Fresh · observed 14 Oct, 15:59 UTC

NOAA OVATION is a regional activity model. Bz, light pollution, the auroral oval and safe access also matter.

Check the local sky

Check the forecast for your destination before leaving. Coastal cloud around Seattle, lake weather near Duluth and conditions in interior Alaska need separate local checks.

Where to look

In the lower 48, look for a dark, open northern horizon. Around Fairbanks, aurora may appear overhead as well. Keep direct lighting out of your view.

Choose your next stop

Choose your state, then the closest relevant city. A clear spot nearby can be a better choice than a long drive toward cloud. The guides below help you plan the evening.

Find your forecast by state

South Dakota

19 locations
View region Explore →

Washington

211 locations
View region Explore →

Massachusetts

243 locations
View region Explore →

Maine

54 locations
View region Explore →

Oregon

102 locations
View region Explore →

New York

132 locations
View region Explore →

Minnesota

155 locations
View region Explore →

Michigan

188 locations
View region Explore →

Iowa

39 locations
View region Explore →

Illinois

87 locations
View region Explore →

Nebraska

5 locations
View region Explore →

Wisconsin

152 locations
View region Explore →

Idaho

35 locations
View region Explore →

Montana

24 locations
View region Explore →

Alaska

44 locations
View region Explore →

New Hampshire

54 locations
View region Explore →

Vermont

19 locations
View region Explore →

North Dakota

15 locations
View region Explore →

Wyoming

11 locations
View region Explore →

Pennsylvania

2 locations
View region Explore →

Connecticut

1 locations
View region Explore →

Rhode Island

1 locations
View region Explore →

27-Day Forecast

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Oct 15

Kp Index •••
Activity outlook •••
Cloud Cover •••

Oct 16

Kp Index •••
Activity outlook •••
Cloud Cover •••

Oct 17

Kp Index •••
Activity outlook •••
Cloud Cover •••

Aurora forecast questions and answers

Can I see the northern lights in the US tonight?
Start with the forecast for your state and nearest city. Alaska often has opportunities during quieter activity, while the lower 48 usually need a stronger display. Wherever you are, look for clear skies, darkness and an open view before making plans to head out.
Which US forecast should I open?
Use the state directory to find a forecast near you. Fairbanks, Duluth and Seattle are examples of different parts of the country, not a ranking of tonight’s best places. Their cloud cover and viewing opportunities cannot describe every town in Alaska, Minnesota or Washington.
What Kp level should I look for in the United States?
There is no useful single threshold for the whole country. Use the guide for your location, then check the aurora map and local weather. A higher Kp can make a wider display worth watching, but it does not guarantee clear skies or a visible aurora from your neighbourhood.
Is it worth driving north after an aurora alert?
Compare reachable places and their weather before deciding. A nearby dark spot under clear skies may be more useful than a long drive toward cloud. Check road conditions and choose safe public access; give yourself a comfortable return plan instead of chasing every promising update.
Which direction should I watch from the lower 48?
Find an open northern horizon away from direct lighting. A distant display may stay low, so hills, buildings and low cloud can hide it. Allow your eyes to adjust and keep watching for changes. A camera may show faint colour that looks much subtler to your eyes.
How can Aurora Hunt help me catch the northern lights in the US?
Keep local forecasts, cloud maps and aurora alerts together on your phone with Aurora Hunt. Follow conditions near home or during a trip without refreshing several pages all evening. Download the app and have your next sky check ready when a promising night arrives. Download Aurora Hunt

Global space-weather context

Check the live auroral oval before choosing a local forecast

Use the NOAA OVATION map for the global oval, then return here for local cloud, darkness and viewing conditions.

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Track Aurora Conditions in United States

Track changes in northern lights activity for United States, then confirm local darkness, cloud and safe access before going outside.

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