Aurora Tonight
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Northern lights Montana tonight

Northern Montana sits at ~55°N magnetic latitude. Kp 4–5 is needed from Glacier National Park and the Canadian border region. Glacier is a designated International Dark Sky Park - glaciated peaks, mountain lakes, and open prairie sky give some of the most photogenic aurora scenery in the continental USA. Best season: September to April.

Aurora visibility — Montana

Unlikely tonight

Kp 1 is well below the Kp 4–5 threshold needed for aurora to be visible from Montana.

Current Kp

1

of 9

Threshold for Montana: Kp 4–5 Magnetic latitude: ~55°N Updated: 10 May, 11:07 UTC

What Kp is needed here?

Montana sits at a magnetic latitude of approximately 55°N. The Kp index - a global measure of geomagnetic activity on a scale from 0 (quiet) to 9 (extreme storm), updated every 3 hours - needs to reach Kp 4–5 before the auroral oval expands far enough south to be visible from here.

At Kp 4–5, visibility is possible from Montana but skies need to be clear and dark. Cloud cover and light pollution remain the main obstacles even when Kp is high enough.

Best dark sky sites near Montana

Light pollution is the biggest obstacle after cloud cover. These sites give you the best dark northern horizon within reach.

Glacier National Park

A national park of 1 million acres in northwest Montana on the Canadian border. The park is an International Dark Sky Park. Saint Mary Lake, Lake McDonald, and the Going-to-the-Sun Road corridor give mountain lake positions with open north sky. At 49°N geographic latitude and 55°N magnetic, the park sits at the northernmost edge of the continental USA auroral threshold. During G2 storms, full aurora displays fill the sky above the peaks.

Blackfeet Nation / eastern glacier slopes

The eastern side of Glacier Park opens onto the Great Plains. The treeless prairie gives a much wider sky view than the mountain valleys on the west side. The Blackfeet Nation tribal land borders the park to the east. Several pullouts on Highway 89 between St. Mary and Browning give open prairie sky with the Rockies lit by aurora to the west - a uniquely dramatic composition.

Flathead Lake

About 50 km south of Glacier, the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. The north shore gives a wide open lake horizon northward. The area is rural with minimal light pollution. Polson at the south end and Bigfork on the east shore are the main towns.

Other USA aurora forecasts

USA overview Minnesota Michigan UP Banff

Related pages

Northern Lights USA

USA-wide aurora forecast hub.

Northern Lights Minnesota Tonight

Minnesota - Boundary Waters, best dark sky in the eastern northern tier.

Northern Lights Banff Tonight

Banff - Canadian Rockies aurora at similar latitude, 2 hours north.

Northern Lights Photography

Camera settings for Glacier NP mountain lake aurora photography.

What Is the Kp Index?

What Kp 4-5 means for viewing at 55°N magnetic latitude.

Common questions

Aurora watching in Montana - Glacier National Park and the Rocky Mountain sky.

Can you see the northern lights in Montana?
Yes, during moderate geomagnetic storms. Northern Montana sits at ~55°N magnetic latitude. Glacier National Park - a designated Dark Sky Park - gives the best combination of dark sky and dramatic mountain scenery in the state. Kp 4-5 produces displays over the peaks. During strong G3+ storms, aurora is visible across most of Montana. The open sky of the eastern prairie gives wider views than the mountain valleys.
What Kp is needed for aurora in Montana?
Kp 4 from Glacier National Park or the Highway 89 corridor east of the park. Kp 5 for aurora visible from central and southern Montana. At 55°N magnetic latitude, Montana is at a similar aurora threshold to Michigan's Upper Peninsula. G2-G3 storms are typically needed for reliable displays in the northern tier.
What makes Glacier National Park good for aurora photography?
The combination of dark sky (International Dark Sky Park designation), dramatic mountain scenery, and north-facing lake and valley positions makes Glacier the most sought-after mountain aurora location in the continental USA. Saint Mary Lake with the Lewis Range behind gives a powerful composition. The Going-to-the-Sun Road corridor at high elevation gives open sky with glaciated peaks as silhouettes.
When is the best time to see aurora in Montana?
September to April. Montana has adequate darkness from late August. The equinox months (September, March) are the most geomagnetically active. Glacier National Park's Going-to-the-Sun Road closes to vehicles in mid-October, but hiking and ski-touring access remains to the higher elevations. Winter conditions are cold (-10 to -20°C) in the north.
How do I get to Glacier National Park?
Fly to Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) near Kalispell, about 30 km from the park's west entrance. Airlines including Delta, United, and Alaska serve FCA seasonally from Seattle, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis, and Denver. Alternatively, Amtrak's Empire Builder stops at East Glacier Park and West Glacier stations - a scenic route from Seattle (8h) or Chicago (24h).