Northern Lights Tonight in Manitoba
Manitoba reaches from Winnipeg, where moderate storms show, to Churchill on Hudson Bay, which sits under the oval itself. Thresholds run from Kp 1.0 to 3.7. Tonight's peak Kp is 3.7 (active): best chance at Winnipeg, moderate.
Best chance in Manitoba tonight
ModerateWinnipeg: moderate, peak Kp 3.7 against Kp 3.6 needed, clouds 21%.
Kp requirements by location
1Churchill
| On the horizon | Kp 1.0 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 2.0 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 3.0 |
Kp now 2.0: clearly visible range
2Thompson
| On the horizon | Kp 2.0 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 3.0 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 4.0 |
Kp now 2.0: horizon range
| On the horizon | Kp 3.6 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 4.6 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 5.6 |
Kp now 2.0: 1.6 short of the horizon
4Brandon
| On the horizon | Kp 3.7 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 4.7 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 5.7 |
Kp now 2.0: 1.7 short of the horizon
Best dark sky viewing locations
Spruce Woods Provincial Park
Dark-Sky Preserve (RASC)
Manitoba's first designated dark-sky preserve (2022), with some of the darkest skies in southern Manitoba.
Paved highway to the park near Glenboro; roads inside.
Birds Hill Provincial Park
Provincial park north of Winnipeg with open meadows and ridges. No dark-sky designation.
Highway 59 north of Winnipeg.
Aurora status by city
Winnipeg
Brandon
Churchill
Thompson
What time to look tonight in Manitoba
Best window tonight: 10 PM – 12 AM CDT at Winnipeg. Look north, low on the horizon; the hours around local midnight are usually the most active.
Best viewing season in Manitoba
Manitoba is flat, cold and often clear in winter, and the northern horizon is open nearly everywhere. Winnipeg and Brandon see the lights on moderate nights; Thompson and Churchill are well inside the oval and see them far more often.
The best months run from autumn through early spring. Churchill is remote, reached by train or air, so plan ahead. The south has better road access but more light, and the flat land lets you pick almost any open field with a clear view north. Wind chill on the Prairie can be severe, so dress for waiting outside.
Peak aurora months
At Churchill, Kp most often reaches the threshold on dark nights in March, August, September and October.
GFZ Potsdam Kp since 2015; clouds not counted.
Manitoba northern lights FAQ
Can you see the northern lights in Manitoba?
Can I see the northern lights in Manitoba tonight?
Where are the darkest skies in Manitoba?
What Kp do I need to see the northern lights in Manitoba?
Free app for iPhone and Android
Track aurora across Manitoba
The forecast on this page, watching your location all night and telling you when to step outside.
The hour tonight when Kp, clouds and darkness line up for your spot.
A push alert 30–90 minutes before the aurora reaches your sky, even at 2 AM.
Where the clouds open nearby, so you know which way to drive.
Explore more
Learn more about the northern lights
How to See the Northern Lights: A Beginner's Guide
Three conditions decide whether you see the northern lights: activity at your latitude, a clear sky and darkness. Here is how to check each one.
Aurora Colors and What They Mean
Green, red, blue, purple and pink aurora explained: which gas makes each color, how high it glows, and why your camera shows more than your eyes.
Northern Lights in Canada: Best Places
The best places to see the northern lights in Canada: Yellowknife, Whitehorse, Churchill, Jasper and the prairies, plus what Ontario and Quebec get.
Northern Lights in Scotland
Where to see the northern lights in Scotland: north coast, islands, Cairngorms and dark sky parks, when the sky is dark enough, and how to beat cloud.
Northern Lights in Norway
Where to see the northern lights in Norway, which months work, why the coast and inland need different plans, and what Oslo gets in a storm.
Aurora Australis Forecast Guide
How to read a forecast for the southern lights: Kp, Bz, the southern oval, darkness, moon and cloud, plus where to look in Tasmania and southern Australia.
Kp index today
Live Kp, the 3-day and 27-day forecast, and what Kp each city needs.
Geomagnetic storm today
G-scale now, the storm outlook and how far south the aurora reaches.