Northern Lights Tonight in Wisconsin
Wisconsin's Lake Superior shore sees aurora from about Kp 4.3, Door County and Green Bay a notch higher, and Milwaukee and Madison need about Kp 5.1. Tonight's peak Kp is 3.7 (active): best chance at Superior, low.
Best chance in Wisconsin tonight
LowSuperior: low, peak Kp 3.7 against Kp 4.3 needed, clouds 2%.
Kp requirements by location
1Superior
| On the horizon | Kp 4.3 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 5.3 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 6.3 |
Kp now 2.0: 2.3 short of the horizon
2Ashland
| On the horizon | Kp 4.3 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 5.3 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 6.3 |
Kp now 2.0: 2.3 short of the horizon
3Sturgeon Bay
| On the horizon | Kp 4.7 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 5.7 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 6.7 |
Kp now 2.0: 2.7 short of the horizon
4Madison
| On the horizon | Kp 5.1 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 6.1 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 7.1 |
Kp now 2.0: 3.1 short of the horizon
| On the horizon | Kp 5.1 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 6.1 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 7.1 |
Kp now 2.0: 3.1 short of the horizon
Best dark sky viewing locations
Newport State Park
International Dark Sky Park (DarkSky International)
A wilderness park at the tip of the Door Peninsula, with Lake Michigan shoreline and a dark sky. It was the first Wisconsin state park with the designation.
Paved county road from Ellison Bay; state park vehicle pass needed.
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore (Meyers Beach)
A Lake Superior beach near Cornucopia with islands and open water to the north, and almost no lighting along this coast.
Paved WI-13 to the Meyers Beach lot; winter parking may be limited.
Point Beach State Forest
Lake Michigan beaches with long dunes and few lights between Manitowoc and Two Rivers. The shoreline faces east, so go to the northern end for a north view.
Paved county road from Two Rivers; state vehicle pass needed.
Aurora status by city
Superior
Ashland
Sturgeon Bay
Madison
Milwaukee
What time to look tonight in Wisconsin
Best window tonight: 10 PM – 12 AM CST at Superior. Look north, low on the horizon; the hours around local midnight are usually the most active.
Best viewing season in Wisconsin
Wisconsin's dark season runs from autumn to early spring. The Lake Superior shore around Bayfield and the Door Peninsula in the northeast are the best places to see a clear northern horizon, while the Northwoods inland also have very little light.
Lake-effect cloud and snow cross the Superior shore in winter, and the whole state sees long gray stretches between clear cold fronts. Milwaukee's light dome washes out the southeast, so head north or to the lakeshore beyond the city to get a dark view.
Peak aurora months
At Superior, Kp most often reaches the threshold on dark nights in March, April, September and October.
GFZ Potsdam Kp since 2015; clouds not counted.
Wisconsin northern lights FAQ
Can you see the northern lights in Wisconsin?
Can I see the northern lights in Wisconsin tonight?
Where are the darkest skies in Wisconsin?
What Kp do I need to see the northern lights in Wisconsin?
Free app for iPhone and Android
Track aurora across Wisconsin
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.