🌌 Aurora forecast

Northern Lights tonight in Minneapolis?

A live, location-specific aurora forecast for Minneapolis — tonight's Kp index, the live Ovation model overhead, the Kp this latitude needs, and the 3-day outlook. Updated continuously from NOAA SWPC.

Live · from NOAA SWPC

Unlikely tonight

Aurora is unlikely in Minneapolis tonight

Kp is 1 (G0), below the roughly Kp 6 Minneapolis typically needs for the northern lights to come into view.

1Current Kp · G0

0%Overhead now (Ovation)

Kp 6Needed for Minneapolis

53.6°Geomagnetic latitude

The 3-day outlook stays quiet (below storm level), so aurora over Minneapolis is unlikely in the next few days.

How to see the northern lights from Minneapolis

Look north. The aurora appears low on the northern horizon for Minneapolis unless the storm is strong, so you need a clear, unobstructed view that way.
Get dark. Leave city lights behind — the darker the sky, the fainter an aurora you can catch. A new or low moon helps.
Time it. Activity peaks around magnetic midnight (about 10pm–2am local). Clear autumn-to-spring nights are best.
Check the live reading. A gust of solar wind gives only 15–60 minutes' warning, so watch the live Kp and the space weather dashboard on the night.

Understand the forecast

Aurora forecast hubLive Kp, the visibility map & best window Kp index explainedWhat the 0–9 scale means for you What is space weather?Solar wind, flares, CMEs & storms Space Weather nowLive solar & geomagnetic conditions

Aurora in Minneapolis — common questions

Can I see the aurora tonight in Minneapolis?

Aurora is unlikely in Minneapolis tonight. Kp is 1 (G0), below the roughly Kp 6 Minneapolis typically needs for the northern lights to come into view.

What Kp index does Minneapolis need for the aurora?

Minneapolis sits at about 53.6° geomagnetic latitude, so the auroral oval typically reaches it around Kp 6 and above. Higher Kp brings brighter, higher displays; below that the aurora usually stays poleward of Minneapolis.

Which way do I look for the aurora from Minneapolis?

From Minneapolis, look toward the northern horizon (toward the nearer pole). Find a dark site with a clear view that way, ideally around magnetic midnight (roughly 10pm–2am local).

Aurora forecast for another city

Pick your location for a tonight's-aurora verdict, or open the full aurora forecast hub for the live map and best viewing window.

Last updated 2026-08-11 · Live data: NOAA SWPC (Kp index, OVATION aurora model). Geomagnetic-latitude thresholds are approximate.

Aurora is unlikely in Minneapolis tonight

How to see the northern lights from Minneapolis

Understand the forecast

Aurora in Minneapolis — common questions

Aurora forecast for another city

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