Northern Lights Tonight in Oregon
Oregon needs a strong storm, about Kp 5.5 in the south-central high desert to Kp 6.1 in the Willamette Valley, but the dry east side offers dark skies. Tonight's peak Kp is 3.7 (active): aurora is unlikely anywhere in Oregon.
Best chance in Oregon tonight
UnlikelyPortland: unlikely, peak Kp 3.7 against Kp 5.5 needed, clouds 75%.
Kp requirements by location
| On the horizon | Kp 5.5 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 6.5 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 7.5 |
Kp now 2.0: 3.5 short of the horizon
2Eugene
| On the horizon | Kp 5.8 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 6.8 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 7.8 |
Kp now 2.0: 3.8 short of the horizon
3Bend
| On the horizon | Kp 5.8 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 6.8 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 7.8 |
Kp now 2.0: 3.8 short of the horizon
4Burns
| On the horizon | Kp 5.8 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 6.8 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 7.8 |
Kp now 2.0: 3.8 short of the horizon
5Lakeview
| On the horizon | Kp 6.1 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 7.1 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 8.1 |
Kp now 2.0: 4.1 short of the horizon
Best dark sky viewing locations
Prineville Reservoir State Park
International Dark Sky Park (DarkSky International)
Oregon's first state park with this designation, a reservoir in the high desert of Crook County with little light and wide skies.
Paved road from Prineville; state park camping and day use.
Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge
A remote fault-block range in the Oregon Outback, among the least developed areas in the lower 48, with very dark skies and an open view north.
Long gravel roads from Plush or Lakeview; winter access can be limited.
Crater Lake National Park (Rim Village)
A high caldera rim with dark skies. The rim is high above the cloud, but snow closes much of the road in winter.
Paved Rim Drive; the north entrance is closed by snow in winter.
Aurora status by city
Portland
Eugene
Bend
Burns
Lakeview
What time to look tonight in Oregon
Best window tonight: 11 PM – 1 AM PST at Portland. Look north, low on the horizon; the hours around local midnight are usually the most active.
Best viewing season in Oregon
Oregon's aurora chances are best from late autumn to early spring, and east of the Cascades. The high desert from Bend to Lakeview has dry air, high elevation and very little light, and clear nights are far more frequent than in the west.
West of the Cascades, Pacific storms bring weeks of winter overcast to Portland, Salem and Eugene. The Portland light dome also dims the northern horizon. When a storm warning arrives, drive east over the mountains to find clear sky, and set up on open ground with a low view toward the north.
Peak aurora months
At Portland, Kp most often reaches the threshold on dark nights in March, May and September.
GFZ Potsdam Kp since 2015; clouds not counted.
Oregon northern lights FAQ
Can you see the northern lights in Oregon?
Can I see the northern lights in Oregon tonight?
Where are the darkest skies in Oregon?
What Kp do I need to see the northern lights in Oregon?
Free app for iPhone and Android
Track aurora across Oregon
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.