Can you see the northern lights in Washington tonight?
Live aurora odds for Washington — tonight's Kp versus the Kp 5.6 the state needs, plus where and when to look.
Tonight Washington needs Kp 5.6; the current Kp is 3.33, so aurora odds over Washington are low — Cosmik tracks it live, free.
🟠 Low odds over Washington tonight
Tonight's Kp is below the Kp 5.6 Washington needs. Set an alert and we'll tell you when a storm brings the aurora into reach.
Kp now
3.33
Tonight max
2.67
Washington needs
Kp 5.6
Geomag. latitude
52.9°
Live NOAA SWPC data, refreshed every 30 min.
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Tonight's Kp vs the Kp Washington needs (Kp 5.6), plus cloud cover over Washington — sent when a storm is forecast.
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Aurora across all of Washington
Washington only sees the northern lights during major geomagnetic storms, which can strike any month but are most likely near the equinoxes (September–March). On those rare nights, the aurora appears as a faint glow low on the northern horizon rather than overhead.
Track the aurora in Washington cities
Each city page shows its own live Kp verdict — the odds shift with your exact latitude:
- Northern lights in Seattle · needs Kp 5.8
- Northern lights in Portland · needs Kp 6.4
- Northern lights in Spokane · needs Kp 5.5
- Northern lights in Eugene · needs Kp 6.9
- Northern lights in Boise · needs Kp 6.7
- Northern lights in Reno · needs Kp 8.2
Northern lights in Washington — FAQ
Can I see the northern lights tonight in Washington?
Unlikely: tonight's Kp is 3.3, below the Kp 5.6 Washington needs. A free Cosmik alert emails you the moment the forecast reaches it. Updated every 30 minutes from NOAA SWPC data.
Can you see the northern lights in Washington?
Yes, on the right night. Washington needs the planetary Kp index to reach Kp 5.6 for the aurora to appear low on the northern horizon. That happens during geomagnetic storms — Cosmik shows tonight's live odds above so you know before you drive out.
What Kp does Washington need for the northern lights?
Washington needs a Kp of about 5.6 for the aurora to become visible from a dark site with a clear northern horizon. That figure comes from the state's geomagnetic latitude (52.9°): the higher your geomagnetic latitude, the lower the Kp you need.
When is the best time to see the aurora in Washington?
Look between about 10 pm and 2 am local time, on a clear, moonless night, from a spot with no light pollution and an open view to the north. The season peaks September–March, and geomagnetic storms are most frequent near the equinoxes. Cosmik tracks the live Kp so you can catch the exact night it spikes.
Which direction should I look for the aurora in Washington?
North. From Washington the auroral oval lies toward the north magnetic pole, so the aurora appears low on the northern horizon first. Pick a spot with an open northward view, away from city lights — your phone's night mode picks up glow your eyes miss.
