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Live aurora forecast

Northern lights USA tonight

Fairbanks, Alaska sits at 68°N magnetic latitude inside the auroral oval - comparable to Tromsø or Yellowknife. Kp 1–2 is enough. In the lower 48, Minnesota and Michigan Upper Peninsula see aurora several times per year at Kp 4–5 from dark sky preserves along Lake Superior.

Current Kp: 1 · Quiet

Aurora visibility by US location

Fairbanks

Possible

Alaska - auroral oval, Kp 1 from Cleary Summit

~68°N mag. lat. · Needs Kp 1+

Anchorage

Low chance

Alaska - Kp 2 from the Chugach Range

~65°N mag. lat. · Needs Kp 2+

Minnesota

Unlikely

Boundary Waters - best dark sky in the lower 48 north

~56°N mag. lat. · Needs Kp 4+

Michigan

Unlikely

Upper Peninsula - dark sky on Lake Superior

~55°N mag. lat. · Needs Kp 4+

Montana

Unlikely

Glacier NP - Rocky Mountain aurora

~55°N mag. lat. · Needs Kp 4+

Maine

Unlikely

Acadia NP - dark sky New England coast

~54°N mag. lat. · Needs Kp 5+

USA aurora at a glance

Alaska is in a separate category from the rest of the USA. Fairbanks at 68°N and Anchorage at 65°N see aurora at the same Kp levels as Scandinavia. The Fairbanks aurora lodge industry - led by operators like Borealis Basecamp and Chena Hot Springs Resort - has grown substantially in the past decade as international aurora tourism expanded beyond Scandinavia.

In the continental USA, the northern tier sees aurora during geomagnetic storms. Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Michigan's Upper Peninsula have the darkest skies - Bortle 2-3 in the remotest sections. Montana's Glacier National Park sits at 55°N magnetic latitude with the Rockies as backdrop. Maine's Acadia National Park, while darker than most New England, is at the southern edge of reliable aurora territory and needs strong storms.

Related pages

Aurora Locations Worldwide

Global hub for all aurora forecast regions.

Northern Lights Fairbanks Tonight

Fairbanks - Alaska's aurora capital inside the auroral oval.

Northern Lights Minnesota Tonight

Minnesota - Boundary Waters dark sky, best in lower 48.

Northern Lights Canada

Yellowknife and Churchill - North America's other aurora capitals.

What Is the Kp Index?

How Kp determines aurora visibility across US latitudes.

Common questions

Northern lights in the USA - Alaska, lower 48 states, and what Kp you need.

Where is the best place to see the northern lights in the USA?
Fairbanks, Alaska is the best aurora destination in the United States. At 68°N magnetic latitude inside the auroral oval, Fairbanks sees aurora at Kp 1-2 - comparable to Tromsø or Yellowknife. For the continental USA (lower 48), the best positions are the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and the Boundary Waters in Minnesota, which can see aurora at Kp 4 from genuinely dark skies. Montana's Glacier National Park is the best Rocky Mountain option.
When is the best time for northern lights in Alaska?
August to April. Fairbanks has adequate darkness from mid-August. The equinox months of September and March are geomagnetically the strongest. Winter (December-February) has the longest darkness but extreme cold (-30 to -40°C). The aurora lodges around Fairbanks typically operate October to March. September is popular: still cold enough, active aurora, and daytime temperatures are manageable.
Can you see the northern lights in the lower 48 states?
Yes, during moderate to strong geomagnetic storms. The northern tier states - Minnesota, Michigan Upper Peninsula, Montana, Maine, North Dakota, and northern Wisconsin - can see aurora at Kp 4-5. During G3-G4 storms (Kp 6-7), aurora extends as far south as the mid-Atlantic and Midwest. The May 2024 G5 storm produced aurora visible across the entire continental USA. For reliable viewing in the lower 48, dark sky destinations and Kp 4+ conditions are needed.
What is the best state for aurora in the lower 48?
Minnesota and Michigan Upper Peninsula are the best lower-48 states for aurora. Both sit at 54-56°N magnetic latitude with nationally significant dark sky areas (Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Minnesota, Pictured Rocks and Tahquamenon Falls in Michigan UP). Lake Superior's open water horizon gives a wide north-facing sky view. Aurora is visible several times per year in strong geomagnetic conditions.
How does Alaska compare to Canada for aurora?
Fairbanks and Yellowknife are essentially equivalent - both at 68-69°N magnetic latitude inside the auroral oval. Fairbanks is more accessible from the US West Coast; Yellowknife from US East Coast via Toronto. Both have well-developed aurora lodge industries. Fairbanks has slightly more developed tourism infrastructure. Many aurora enthusiasts visit both.