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Will the aurora be visible tonight?

Will the aurora be visible tonight?

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Whether you can see the northern lights comes down to geomagnetic activity — measured by the Kp index — and your latitude. At Kp 5, the aurora can reach the northern-tier states; at Kp 7–8, it has been photographed from as far south as the Carolinas and Oklahoma. Most nights, it stays in Canada.

This tool takes tonight's NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center forecast and translates it for your city: the expected Kp, how far south the visible aurora should reach, and honestly whether your latitude is in play — not just a generic national alert.

We're near the maximum of the current solar cycle, which means strong geomagnetic storms are more frequent than they've been in years. When one hits, the difference between seeing it and missing it is usually knowing that night.

Tonight's aurora oval map — see how far south it reaches

Check a major city

New York, NYLos Angeles, CABrooklyn, NYChicago, ILHouston, TXPhoenix, AZPhiladelphia, PASan Antonio, TXSan Diego, CADallas, TXJacksonville, FLFort Worth, TXSan Jose, CAAustin, TXColumbus, OHCharlotte, NCIndianapolis, INSan Francisco, CASeattle, WADenver, COWashington, DCNashville, TNOklahoma City, OKEl Paso, TX

How it works

We combine three data streams: the predicted Kp index (a measure of geomagnetic activity) from NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, the OVATION aurora viewline showing how far south the aurora is likely to be seen, and local cloud cover at your location. We also factor in moon brightness — a full moon can wash out all but the strongest aurora displays. Aurora is notoriously fickle; we lean conservative so "likely visible" actually means likely.

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