November 9, 2026 northern lights forecast: Kp 4.7 (G1) expected — in range of Vancouver, Aberdeen. See the storm details

Northern Lights in the US Tonight: Aurora Forecast & Viewing Guide

Alaska sees the aurora on most clear, dark nights, while the Lower 48 needs a real storm. Thresholds across the country run from Kp 1.6 in the far north to Kp 7.9 in the south.

Places covered
18
Avg magnetic latitude
52.9°
Lowest Kp needed
1.6
Updated

Best chance in the US tonight

Moderate

Juneau: moderate, peak Kp 3.7, clouds 84%, best 12 AM – 2 AM AKST.
3 of 18 locations have a chance tonight.

Tonight's aurora map of the US

Live aurora map
Aurora map of United States for November 9, 2026: the OVATION aurora oval, the line where tonight's Kp reaches the horizon, and 18 places colored by tonight's chance.
Green: OVATION aurora probability. Dashed line: where tonight's peak Kp (3.7) reaches the horizon. Dots: tonight's status. Updated 15:45 UTC.

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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.

LIVE MAP

The oval and the clouds over your spot, refreshed through the night.

WAKE UP

A push alert before the aurora reaches your sky.

BEST HOUR

The one hour tonight worth setting an alarm for.

Aurora destinations in the US

Juneau aurora forecast

Alaska
Moderate
Needs Kp 3.0 Peak Kp 3.7 Clouds 84% 12 AM – 2 AM AKST

Fairbanks aurora forecast

Alaska
Unlikely
Needs Kp 1.6 Peak Kp 3.7 Clouds 91%

Anchorage aurora forecast

Alaska
Unlikely
Needs Kp 3.0 Peak Kp 3.7 Clouds 95%

Spokane aurora forecast

Washington
Unlikely
Needs Kp 4.8 Peak Kp 3.7 Clouds 75%

Seattle aurora forecast

Washington
Unlikely
Needs Kp 5.0 Peak Kp 3.7 Clouds 69%

Milwaukee aurora forecast

Wisconsin
Unlikely
Needs Kp 5.1 Peak Kp 3.7 Clouds 24%

Bangor aurora forecast

Maine
Unlikely
Needs Kp 5.2 Peak Kp 3.7 Clouds 30%

Detroit aurora forecast

Michigan
Unlikely
Needs Kp 5.3 Peak Kp 3.7 Clouds 58%

Chicago aurora forecast

Illinois
Unlikely
Needs Kp 5.4 Peak Kp 3.7 Clouds 40%

Portland aurora forecast

Oregon
Unlikely
Needs Kp 5.5 Peak Kp 3.7 Clouds 75%

Cleveland aurora forecast

Ohio
Unlikely
Needs Kp 5.5 Peak Kp 3.7 Clouds 64%

Boise aurora forecast

Idaho
Unlikely
Needs Kp 5.6 Peak Kp 3.7 Clouds 36%

Columbus aurora forecast

Ohio
Unlikely
Needs Kp 5.8 Peak Kp 3.7 Clouds 17%

New York aurora forecast

New York
Unlikely
Needs Kp 5.9 Peak Kp 3.7 Clouds 30%

Denver aurora forecast

Colorado
Unlikely
Needs Kp 6.1 Peak Kp 3.7 Clouds 21%

Los Angeles aurora forecast

California
Unlikely
Needs Kp 7.9 Peak Kp 3.7 Clouds 46%

Grand Marais, Minnesota

Forecast point
Low
Needs Kp 4.0 Peak Kp 3.7 Clouds 0% 10 PM – 12 AM CST

Marquette, Michigan

Forecast point
Low
Needs Kp 4.3 Peak Kp 3.7 Clouds 6% 11 PM – 1 AM EST

Live aurora status: Juneau live forecast · Fairbanks live forecast · Anchorage live forecast

What time to look tonight in the US

AKT

12 AM – 2 AM AKST

Juneau: moderate

PT

2 AM – 5 AM PST

Spokane: unlikely

MT

1 AM – 5 AM MST

Boise: unlikely

CT

10 PM – 12 AM CST

Grand Marais, Minnesota: low

ET

11 PM – 1 AM EST

Marquette, Michigan: low

Best window of the best-placed location in each zone. Look north; the darker your horizon, the earlier you see it.

States with an aurora forecast

Michigan

MI

5 locations · Kp 4.1–5.3

Pennsylvania

PA

5 locations · Kp 5.4–6.0

Montana

MT

5 locations · Kp 4.2–4.9

California

CA

5 locations · Kp 6.5–8.2

Colorado

CO

5 locations · Kp 5.9–6.3

Virginia

VA

5 locations · Kp 6.1–6.7

Vermont

VT

5 locations · Kp 5.1–5.5

Florida

FL

5 locations · Kp 7.9–9.0

Wisconsin

WI

5 locations · Kp 4.3–5.1

Iowa

IA

5 locations · Kp 5.1–5.5

Ohio

OH

4 locations · Kp 5.5–6.0

Kansas

KS

4 locations · Kp 6.0–6.3

Oregon

OR

5 locations · Kp 5.5–6.1

Arizona

AZ

4 locations · Kp 6.9–8.0

Washington

WA

4 locations · Kp 4.8–5.2

Alaska

AK

5 locations · Kp 1.0–3.0

Aurora viewing guide for the US

The best months are September through April, when nights are long enough to be properly dark. Around the equinoxes, in March and September, geomagnetic activity tends to run a little higher, which helps. In Alaska, the summer sun keeps the sky bright from late spring to midsummer, so the season there starts in late August. In the Lower 48, the same calendar applies, but storms matter more than the month, and they come at the pace of the solar cycle.

Where you go sets your odds. Interior Alaska is the surest place in the country, and the northern Great Lakes, northern Maine, Montana and the Dakotas are the best of the Lower 48. Winter cloud decides many nights: the Great Lakes and Pacific Northwest are often overcast, while the Mountain West and Alaska interior have more clear skies. A moonless night helps everywhere. Away from cities, any dark site with an open view north works. Ordinary lighting washes out the faint glow, so plan to leave town.

Aurora nights by month

Average dark nights per month when Kp reached the local threshold, across 18 places, since 2015.

Most active months: Mar, Apr, Sep, Oct.

Alaska vs. the Lower 48

In Alaska, the aurora is routine. Fairbanks and the interior sit under the auroral oval, so a quiet night with a clear sky can bring a display, and a weak storm can fill the whole sky. Anchorage and Juneau are farther from the oval, so they need a moderate storm, and cloud is the usual limit. See Alaska for the whole state, or Fairbanks for the sure bet.

In the Lower 48, the aurora is a storm event. The northern tier, including Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, northern Minnesota and Maine, needs a strong storm, and the glow shows as a pale arc low in the north. Farther south, only the severe storms that come a few times in a solar cycle bring it, and phone cameras often detect it before your eyes. Treat these as chances, not plans.

The darkest northern horizons in the Lower 48 are in northern Maine, the Upper Peninsula and Lake Superior shore, northern Minnesota, Montana and the Idaho and Oregon high desert, where there is little light between you and Canada. The Great Lakes also help: a north-facing shore looks over open water. Michigan is the best starting point east of the Rockies.

Plan your US aurora trip

How to see the aurora Kp index today Live aurora map

US Aurora FAQ

When is the best time to see the northern lights in the United States?
September through April is the season, when nights are dark. Alaska is best from late August to April, and the equinox months of March and September often bring higher activity. In the Lower 48 the month matters less than a strong storm, a clear sky and a moonless night.
Where in the United States can I see the northern lights?
Interior Alaska is the surest place, with Fairbanks as the usual base. In the Lower 48, the northern tier is best: the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, northern Minnesota, Maine, Montana and North Dakota. Choose a dark site with an open northern view, away from city light.
How many nights should I plan for the northern lights in the United States?
In Alaska, plan on three to five nights in the season to allow for cloud, and expect good odds on each clear one. In the Lower 48, there is no fixed number. Watch the forecast and go when a storm and clear weather line up, rather than booking a trip around it.
Can I see the northern lights from major cities in the United States?
Only rarely. Anchorage and Fairbanks have a real chance in town on dark nights, though outside the glare helps. Cities in the Lower 48, from Seattle to New York, need strong storms and a drive to a dark site with a north view. Los Angeles and Denver require extreme storms.
What Kp do I need to see the northern lights in the US?
It depends on where you are: from Kp 1.6 at Fairbanks to Kp 7.9 at Los Angeles. Each place shows its own threshold and tonight's Kp against it.
Can I see the northern lights in the US tonight?
3 places of 18 have a chance tonight; the best is Juneau (moderate). Tonight's peak Kp is 3.7 (active), and the northern lights in the US needs Kp 1.6 to 7.9 depending on where you are.

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.