Northern Lights Tonight in Seattle, Washington
Tonight in Seattle: aurora is unlikely. Kp peaks at 3.7, below the local Kp 5.0 threshold; clouds 69%. Next possible window: Nov 17.
Visibility now
UnlikelyKp 2.0 now (quiet); this spot needs Kp 5.0+.
Kp: NOAA SWPC · Oval: NOAA OVATION · Clouds: Open-Meteo · Updated every 15 minutes.
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Seattle aurora forecast
| PST | Kp | Chance | Status | Clouds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 PM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 100% |
| 7 PM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 49% |
| 8 PM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 6% |
| 9 PM | 2.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 100% |
| 10 PM | 2.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 19% |
| 11 PM | 2.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 65% |
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?
The first night in the NOAA outlook that reaches Seattle's Kp 5.0 is Nov 17.
~35 aurora nights per year
Dark nights when Kp reached 5.0, average of the last three years (GFZ Potsdam). Clouds not counted.
Average nights per month since 2015. Best months to visit: Mar, May, Sep, Oct.
Tonight's best window
If activity picks up, watch12 AM – 2 AM PST, look north-northeast, low on the horizon.
Fully dark from 6:26 PM to 5:20 AM PST.
Why this forecast?
Aurora Borealis Viewing in Seattle
Seattle sits far enough north to catch the aurora, but only when a real storm arrives. The city’s threshold is Kp 5.0, which means a strong geomagnetic night, not an ordinary one. When one does hit, the glow shows as a reddish or green band low over the northern horizon, and a phone camera often picks it up before your eyes do.
The main obstacle is the light you live under. Downtown, the Eastside and the Interstate 5 corridor throw a dome that washes out the northern sky, and Lake Washington and Puget Sound leave few places where you can stand with nothing but dark water to the north. Winter is also the cloudy season here, so a storm and a clear night rarely line up. Check the cloud forecast first and treat the Kp number as the second filter.
Plan to leave town. Whidbey Island, the Olympic Peninsula and the foothills north of Everett all give you a horizon that is dark enough for the glow to stand out. Wherever you go, face north over open water or an open field and give your eyes twenty minutes to adjust.
For the whole picture, check the northern lights tonight overview or the live aurora map.
Dark-sky spots near Seattle
Deception Pass State Park
Rocky beaches and bluffs at the north end of Whidbey Island, with open water and few lights to the north. A long drive and a ferry or bridge crossing from Seattle.
Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park
A mountain ridge above 5,000 feet in the Olympics, well away from city light. The visitor center area opens a wide view toward the northern horizon over the Strait.
Other cities in the US
Portland
Spokane
Boise
Juneau
Los Angeles
Denver
Plan your trip
Northern Lights in Seattle: Quick Guide
How often can you see the northern lights in Seattle?
What Kp do I need to see the northern lights in Seattle?
Can I see the northern lights tonight in Seattle?
Where should I look for the northern lights in Seattle?
What time is best tonight in Seattle?
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.