Northern Lights Tonight in Portland, Oregon
Tonight in Portland: aurora is unlikely. Kp peaks at 3.7, below the local Kp 5.5 threshold; clouds 75%.
Visibility now
UnlikelyKp 2.0 now (quiet); this spot needs Kp 5.5+.
Kp: NOAA SWPC · Oval: NOAA OVATION · Clouds: Open-Meteo · Updated every 15 minutes.
Get a 72-hour aurora forecast and free alerts for Portland
Portland aurora forecast
| PST | Kp | Chance | Status | Clouds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 PM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 100% |
| 7 PM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 100% |
| 8 PM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 0% |
| 9 PM | 2.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 5% |
| 10 PM | 2.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 93% |
| 11 PM | 2.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 47% |
Chance combines Kp against the local threshold, clouds, darkness and the moon. Hours before dark read “Too light”.
Kp is just one factor. The app adds clouds, moon, darkness, latitude and solar wind for each night.
Which nights are best?
No night in the 27-day NOAA outlook reaches Portland's Kp 5.5; storms can still arrive at short notice.
~15 aurora nights per year
Dark nights when Kp reached 5.5, average of the last three years (GFZ Potsdam). Clouds not counted.
Average nights per month since 2015. Best months to visit: Mar, May, Sep.
Tonight's best window
If activity picks up, watch11 PM – 1 AM PST, look north, low on the horizon.
Fully dark from 6:28 PM to 5:20 AM PST.
Why this forecast?
Aurora Borealis Viewing in Portland
Portland needs a strong storm to see aurora, with a threshold of Kp 5.5. On those nights the glow is a low, faint arc to the north, and the camera on your phone will often show more color than you can make out by eye.
The geography works against you in two ways. The Willamette and Columbia valleys hold low cloud through much of the winter, and the urban area stretches north across the river into Vancouver, Washington, so the northern sky is brighter than you would expect. West Hills ridges can help a little, but the best answer is to drive out of the metro area.
Sauvie Island is the usual local choice: flat farmland and wetlands with open sky to the north, a short drive from the west side. The Columbia River Gorge east of town offers more elevation and darker corners, though the gorge walls limit the view. In both places, face north and watch the forecast for gaps in the clouds, because on a typical December night the sky is the bigger problem than the Kp value.
For the whole picture, check the northern lights tonight overview or the live aurora map.
Dark-sky spots near Portland
Sauvie Island Wildlife Area
Flat farmland and wetlands on the Columbia River with a broad open view to the north. The nearest real horizon from the city.
Rooster Rock State Park
A riverbank park on the Columbia in the Gorge, east of Portland. The north shore of the river is farther and darker than the city skyline.
Other cities in the US
Seattle
Spokane
Boise
Los Angeles
Denver
Juneau
Plan your trip
Northern Lights in Portland: Quick Guide
How often can you see the northern lights in Portland?
What Kp do I need to see the northern lights in Portland?
Can I see the northern lights tonight in Portland?
Where should I look for the northern lights in Portland?
What time is best tonight in Portland?
Free app for iPhone and Android
Know when the sky is worth your time
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.
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.