Question 1

Can you see the northern lights tonight?

Accepted Answer

It depends on tonight's Kp index and your latitude. Below Kp 4, aurora stays near the Arctic (Alaska, northern Canada, Iceland, Scandinavia). At Kp 5–6 it can reach northern-tier US states like Montana, Minnesota, Michigan, and Maine. At Kp 7+ it pushes into the mid-latitudes. This page compares the live Kp against each state's threshold.

Question 2

Which US states can see the northern lights most often?

Accepted Answer

Alaska by a wide margin — it sits under the auroral oval and sees aurora at Kp 1. Among the lower 48, the most reliable are the northern-tier states on NOAA's Kp 5 view line: Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin (far north), Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Washington, and Maine.

Question 3

What time should I look for the northern lights?

Accepted Answer

Between 10 PM and 2 AM local time, centered on local midnight, when your location rotates under the densest part of the auroral oval. September through March offers the darkest skies at aurora latitudes.

Question 4

How do I get alerted when aurora is possible in my state?

Accepted Answer

Aurora visibility is driven by the Kp index, so a Kp storm alert works as an aurora heads-up. The ResonanceOne app sends free push notifications when the Kp index reaches geomagnetic storm level (Kp 5+) — the threshold at which northern-tier states come into play. ResonanceOne has no aurora map; it tracks the underlying geomagnetic signal.

Northern Lights Tonight
Live Forecast by State

Can you see the northern lights tonight?

Tonight's Outlook, State by State

Northern Lights Tonight: FAQ

The aurora won't email you.
A Kp alert will.

Northern Lights TonightLive Forecast by State

Can you see the northern lights tonight?

Tonight's Outlook, State by State

Northern Lights Tonight: FAQ

Can you see the northern lights tonight?

Which US states can see the northern lights most often?

What time should I look for the northern lights?

How do I get alerted when aurora is possible in my state?

The aurora won't email you.A Kp alert will.

Northern Lights Tonight
Live Forecast by State

The aurora won't email you.
A Kp alert will.