Northern lights in Wisconsin tonight
The aurora reaches Wisconsin at about Kp 5.9 in the far north of the state and Kp 6.8 at its southern edge. SWPC's highest forecast Kp over the next three days is 3+, in the 00-03 UTC block on Thu, Sep 24. Not tonight. The forecast Kp of 2- is well below what it takes for the aurora to reach this far south.
From NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, read Sep 21, 05:10 UTC.
The oval right now
NOAA’s OVATION model: the chance of aurora overhead 30 to 90 minutes from now, valid Sep 21, 06:16 UTC. Green is a low chance, red a high one.
Rain and snow mean cloud, and cloud is the last thing between a forecast aurora and the sky you are standing under. Each town page carries that town’s own sky cover forecast for the dark hours.
Open the live map with the aurora forecast
Aurora forecast from NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center. Original at SWPC
Tonight at Washburn
The most poleward town in Wisconsin with a page, and the first place in the state an aurora reaches. Cloud cover is on each town’s own page.
No tonight
Not tonight. The forecast Kp of 2- is well below what it takes for the aurora to reach this far south.
- The aurora reaches this place at about Kp 5.9, which is 55 degrees geomagnetic latitude on NOAA's storm scales.
- SWPC forecasts a highest Kp of 2- (1.67) during tonight's dark hours: quiet.
- The moon is waxing gibbous, 71% lit, and up for part of the dark hours.
Towns best placed in Wisconsin
The 24 most poleward of the 574 towns in Wisconsin with a page. Each page gives tonight’s chance there, the darkness, the moon and that town’s own cloud forecast.
- WashburnBayfield County · population 2,055 · 55.3° geomagneticKp 5.9
- SuperiorDouglas County · population 26,579 · 55.3° geomagneticKp 5.9
- AshlandAshland County · population 8,040 · 55.2° geomagneticKp 6
- Superior VillageDouglas County · population 558 · 55.2° geomagneticKp 6
- Iron RiverBayfield County · population 761 · 55.2° geomagneticKp 6
- PoplarDouglas County · population 600 · 55.2° geomagneticKp 6
- HurleyIron County · population 1,493 · 55.1° geomagneticKp 6
- MontrealIron County · population 783 · 55.1° geomagneticKp 6
- Lake NebagamonDouglas County · population 1,058 · 55.1° geomagneticKp 6
- MellenAshland County · population 700 · 55.0° geomagneticKp 6
- Solon SpringsDouglas County · population 602 · 54.9° geomagneticKp 6
- MercerIron County · population 516 · 54.9° geomagneticKp 6
- GliddenAshland County · population 507 · 54.8° geomagneticKp 6
- FlorenceFlorence County · population 592 · 54.7° geomagneticKp 6.1
- MinongWashburn County · population 505 · 54.7° geomagneticKp 6.1
- Lac du FlambeauVilas County · population 1,969 · 54.7° geomagneticKp 6.1
- Eagle RiverVilas County · population 1,363 · 54.7° geomagneticKp 6.1
- HaywardSawyer County · population 2,296 · 54.6° geomagneticKp 6.1
- WoodruffOneida County · population 966 · 54.6° geomagneticKp 6.1
- Park FallsPrice County · population 2,334 · 54.6° geomagneticKp 6.1
- Little Round LakeSawyer County · population 1,081 · 54.6° geomagneticKp 6.1
- NiagaraMarinette County · population 1,587 · 54.6° geomagneticKp 6.1
- Chief LakeSawyer County · population 583 · 54.5° geomagneticKp 6.1
- Three LakesOneida County · population 605 · 54.5° geomagneticKp 6.1
Every town in Wisconsin with a page
574 towns at 48 degrees geomagnetic latitude or higher, which a strong storm reaches. The figure after each is the Kp it takes there.
A
- Abbotsford Kp 6.3
- Adams Kp 6.5
- Addison Kp 6.6
- Adell Kp 6.5
- Albany Kp 6.7
- Algoma Kp 6.3
- Allenton Kp 6.6
- Allouez Kp 6.3
- Alma Kp 6.4
- Almena Kp 6.2
- Alto Kp 6.5
- Altoona Kp 6.3
- Amery Kp 6.2
- Amherst Kp 6.4
- Antigo Kp 6.2
- Appleton Kp 6.4
- Arcadia Kp 6.4
- Arena Kp 6.6
- Argyle Kp 6.7
- Arlington Kp 6.6
- Ashford Kp 6.5
- Ashland Kp 6
- Ashwaubenon Kp 6.3
- Athens Kp 6.3
- Auburndale Kp 6.3
- Augusta Kp 6.3
- Avoca Kp 6.6
- Aztalan Kp 6.6
B
- Baldwin Kp 6.3
- Balsam Lake Kp 6.2
- Bancroft Kp 6.4
- Bangor Kp 6.5
- Baraboo Kp 6.6
- Barneveld Kp 6.7
- Barron Kp 6.2
- Barton Kp 6.6
- Bayside Kp 6.6
- Beaver Dam Kp 6.6
- Belgium Kp 6.5
- Belle Plaine Kp 6.3
- Belleville Kp 6.7
- Bellevue Kp 6.3
- Belmont Kp 6.7
- Beloit Kp 6.7
- Benton Kp 6.7
- Berlin Kp 6.5
- Bevent Kp 6.3
- Big Bend Kp 6.7
- Birnamwood Kp 6.3
- Biron Kp 6.4
- Black Creek Kp 6.3
- Black Earth Kp 6.6
- Black River Falls Kp 6.4
- Blair Kp 6.4
- Blanchardville Kp 6.7
- Bloomer Kp 6.3
- Bloomington Kp 6.7
- Blue Mounds Kp 6.7
- Bluffview Kp 6.6
- Bohners Lake Kp 6.7
- Bonduel Kp 6.3
- Boscobel Kp 6.6
- Boyceville Kp 6.3
- Boyd Kp 6.3
- Brandon Kp 6.5
- Brice Prairie Kp 6.5
- Brillion Kp 6.4
- Bristol Kp 6.7
- Brodhead Kp 6.7
- Brookfield Kp 6.6
- Brooklyn Kp 6.7
- Brothertown Kp 6.4
- Brown Deer Kp 6.6
- Browns Lake Kp 6.7
- Brownsville Kp 6.5
- Bruce Kp 6.2
- Brussels Kp 6.3
- Buffalo City Kp 6.4
- Burlington Kp 6.7
- Butler Kp 6.6
- Butte des Morts Kp 6.4
C
- Cadott Kp 6.3
- Caledonia Kp 6.7
- Cambria Kp 6.5
- Cambridge Kp 6.6
- Cameron Kp 6.2
- Camp Douglas Kp 6.5
- Camp Lake Kp 6.7
- Campbellsport Kp 6.5
- Cascade Kp 6.5
- Casco Kp 6.3
- Cashton Kp 6.5
- Cassville Kp 6.7
- Cato Kp 6.4
- Cecil Kp 6.3
- Cedar Grove Kp 6.5
- Cedarburg Kp 6.6
- Centuria Kp 6.2
- Chenequa Kp 6.6
- Chetek Kp 6.2
- Chief Lake Kp 6.1
- Chilton Kp 6.4
- Chippewa Falls Kp 6.3
- Clam Falls Kp 6.2
- Clayton Kp 6.2
- Clear Lake Kp 6.2
- Cleveland Kp 6.5
- Clinton Kp 6.7
- Clintonville Kp 6.3
- Colby Kp 6.3
- Coleman Kp 6.2
- Colfax Kp 6.3
- Columbus Kp 6.6
- Combined Locks Kp 6.4
- Como Kp 6.7
- Concord Kp 6.6
- Coon Valley Kp 6.5
- Cooperstown Kp 6.4
- Cornell Kp 6.2
- Cottage Grove Kp 6.6
- Crandon Kp 6.1
- Crivitz Kp 6.2
- Cross Plains Kp 6.6
- Cuba City Kp 6.7
- Cudahy Kp 6.6
- Cumberland Kp 6.2
D
- Dakota Kp 6.5
- Dale Kp 6.4
- Dane Kp 6.6
- Darien Kp 6.7
- Darlington Kp 6.7
- De Pere Kp 6.3
- Decatur Kp 6.7
- Deerfield Kp 6.6
- DeForest Kp 6.6
- Delafield Kp 6.6
- Delavan Kp 6.7
- Delavan Lake Kp 6.7
- Dellwood Kp 6.5
- Denmark Kp 6.4
- Dickeyville Kp 6.7
- Dodgeville Kp 6.7
- Dorchester Kp 6.3
- Dousman Kp 6.6
- Dresser Kp 6.2
- Durand Kp 6.4
- Dyckesville Kp 6.3
E
- Eagle Kp 6.7
- Eagle Lake Kp 6.7
- Eagle River Kp 6.1
- East Troy Kp 6.7
- Easton Kp 6.5
- Eau Claire Kp 6.3
- Eden Kp 6.5
- Edgar Kp 6.3
- Edgerton Kp 6.7
- El Paso Kp 6.3
- Eldorado Kp 6.5
- Eleva Kp 6.4
- Elk Mound Kp 6.3
- Elkhart Lake Kp 6.5
- Elkhorn Kp 6.7
- Ellsworth Kp 6.3
- Elm Grove Kp 6.6
- Elmwood Kp 6.3
- Elroy Kp 6.5
- Ettrick Kp 6.4
- Evansville Kp 6.7
- Evergreen Kp 6.3
F
- Fairchild Kp 6.4
- Fall Creek Kp 6.3
- Fall River Kp 6.6
- Fennimore Kp 6.7
- Fitchburg Kp 6.7
- Florence Kp 6.1
- Fond du Lac Kp 6.5
- Fontana Kp 6.7
- Footville Kp 6.7
- Forest Junction Kp 6.4
- Fort Atkinson Kp 6.7
- Fountain City Kp 6.5
- Fox Lake Kp 6.5
- Fox Point Kp 6.6
- Francis Creek Kp 6.4
- Franklin Kp 6.7
- Franksville Kp 6.7
- Frederic Kp 6.2
- Fredonia Kp 6.5
- Fremont Kp 6.4
- French Island Kp 6.5
- Friendship Kp 6.5
G
- Galesville Kp 6.5
- Gays Mills Kp 6.6
- Genoa City Kp 6.7
- Germantown Kp 6.6
- Gibbsville Kp 6.5
- Gillett Kp 6.3
- Glendale Kp 6.6
- Glenmore Kp 6.4
- Glenwood City Kp 6.3
- Glidden Kp 6
- Grafton Kp 6.6
- Grantsburg Kp 6.1
- Green Bay Kp 6.3
- Green Lake Kp 6.5
- Greendale Kp 6.6
- Greenfield Kp 6.6
- Greenleaf Kp 6.4
- Greenwood Kp 6.3
- Greenwood Kp 6.6
- Gresham Kp 6.3
H
- Hales Corners Kp 6.7
- Hammond Kp 6.3
- Harrison Kp 6.4
- Hartford Kp 6.6
- Hartland Kp 6.6
- Hatley Kp 6.3
- Hayward Kp 6.1
- Hazel Green Kp 6.8
- Hewitt Kp 6.3
- Highland Kp 6.7
- Hilbert Kp 6.4
- Hillsboro Kp 6.5
- Hingham Kp 6.5
- Hobart Kp 6.3
- Holmen Kp 6.5
- Horicon Kp 6.6
- Hortonville Kp 6.4
- Howard Kp 6.3
- Howards Grove Kp 6.5
- Hudson Kp 6.3
- Hurley Kp 6
- Hustisford Kp 6.6
I
- Independence Kp 6.4
- Iola Kp 6.3
- Iron Ridge Kp 6.6
- Iron River Kp 6
- Ixonia Kp 6.6
J
- Jackson Kp 6.6
- Janesville Kp 6.7
- Jefferson Kp 6.6
- Joel Kp 6.2
- Johnson Creek Kp 6.6
- Juneau Kp 6.6
K
- Kaukauna Kp 6.4
- Kenosha Kp 6.7
- Kenosha Streetcar Kp 6.7
- Keshena Kp 6.3
- Kewaskum Kp 6.5
- Kewaunee Kp 6.3
- Kiel Kp 6.5
- Kimberly Kp 6.4
- King Kp 6.4
- Kohler Kp 6.5
- Kohler Kp 6.5
- Kronenwetter Kp 6.3
L
- La Crosse Kp 6.5
- La Farge Kp 6.6
- Lac du Flambeau Kp 6.1
- Ladysmith Kp 6.2
- Lake Delton Kp 6.5
- Lake Geneva Kp 6.7
- Lake Hallie Kp 6.3
- Lake Koshkonong Kp 6.7
- Lake Lac La Belle Kp 6.6
- Lake Mills Kp 6.6
- Lake Nebagamon Kp 6
- Lake Ripley Kp 6.6
- Lake Shangrila Kp 6.7
- Lake Wazeecha Kp 6.4
- Lake Wisconsin Kp 6.6
- Lake Wissota Kp 6.3
- Lamartine Kp 6.5
- Lancaster Kp 6.7
- Lannon Kp 6.6
- Laona Kp 6.1
- Legend Lake Kp 6.3
- Lena Kp 6.2
- Liberty Kp 6.6
- Linden Kp 6.7
- Little Chute Kp 6.4
- Little Round Lake Kp 6.1
- Livingston Kp 6.7
- Lodi Kp 6.6
- Lomira Kp 6.5
- Lone Rock Kp 6.6
- Loyal Kp 6.3
- Luck Kp 6.2
- Luxemburg Kp 6.3
M
- Madison Kp 6.6
- Maine Kp 6.3
- Manawa Kp 6.4
- Manchester Kp 6.5
- Manitowoc Kp 6.4
- Maple Bluff Kp 6.6
- Maple Grove Kp 6.4
- Marathon Kp 6.3
- Marinette Kp 6.2
- Marion Kp 6.3
- Markesan Kp 6.5
- Marshall Kp 6.6
- Marshfield Kp 6.3
- Mauston Kp 6.5
- Mayville Kp 6.5
- Mazomanie Kp 6.6
- McFarland Kp 6.6
- Medford Kp 6.2
- Meeme Kp 6.5
- Mellen Kp 6
- Menasha Kp 6.4
- Menomonee Falls Kp 6.6
- Menomonie Kp 6.3
- Mequon Kp 6.6
- Mercer Kp 6
- Merrill Kp 6.2
- Merrillan Kp 6.4
- Merton Kp 6.6
- Middle Inlet Kp 6.2
- Middleton Kp 6.6
- Milford Kp 6.6
- Milltown Kp 6.2
- Milton Kp 6.7
- Milwaukee Kp 6.6
- Mineral Point Kp 6.7
- Minong Kp 6.1
- Mishicot Kp 6.4
- Mondovi Kp 6.4
- Monona Kp 6.6
- Monroe Kp 6.7
- Montello Kp 6.5
- Montfort Kp 6.7
- Monticello Kp 6.7
- Montreal Kp 6
- Mosinee Kp 6.3
- Mount Calvary Kp 6.5
- Mount Horeb Kp 6.7
- Mount Morris Kp 6.4
- Mount Pleasant Kp 6.7
- Mukwonago Kp 6.7
- Muscoda Kp 6.6
- Muskego Kp 6.7
N
- Nashotah Kp 6.6
- Nashville Kp 6.1
- Necedah Kp 6.5
- Neenah Kp 6.4
- Neillsville Kp 6.4
- Nekoosa Kp 6.4
- Neopit Kp 6.3
- Neosho Kp 6.6
- New Auburn Kp 6.2
- New Berlin Kp 6.6
- New Glarus Kp 6.7
- New Holstein Kp 6.4
- New Lisbon Kp 6.5
- New London Kp 6.4
- New Richmond Kp 6.3
- Newburg Kp 6.6
- Niagara Kp 6.1
- North Fond du Lac Kp 6.5
- North Freedom Kp 6.6
- North Hudson Kp 6.3
- North La Crosse Kp 6.5
- North Prairie Kp 6.7
- Norwalk Kp 6.5
O
- Oak Creek Kp 6.7
- Oakfield Kp 6.5
- Oconomowoc Kp 6.6
- Oconomowoc Lake Kp 6.6
- Oconto Kp 6.3
- Oconto Falls Kp 6.3
- Okauchee Lake Kp 6.6
- Omro Kp 6.4
- Onalaska Kp 6.5
- Oneida Kp 6.3
- Ontario Kp 6.5
- Oostburg Kp 6.5
- Oregon Kp 6.7
- Orfordville Kp 6.7
- Osceola Kp 6.2
- Oshkosh Kp 6.4
- Osseo Kp 6.4
- Owen Kp 6.3
- Oxford Kp 6.5
P
- Paddock Lake Kp 6.7
- Palmyra Kp 6.7
- Pardeeville Kp 6.5
- Park Falls Kp 6.1
- Park Ridge Kp 6.4
- Pell Lake Kp 6.7
- Pepin Kp 6.4
- Peshtigo Kp 6.2
- Pewaukee Kp 6.6
- Phillips Kp 6.1
- Pittsfield Kp 6.3
- Pittsville Kp 6.4
- Plain Kp 6.6
- Plainfield Kp 6.4
- Platteville Kp 6.7
- Pleasant Prairie Kp 6.7
- Plover Kp 6.4
- Plum City Kp 6.4
- Plymouth Kp 6.5
- Polonia Kp 6.3
- Poplar Kp 6
- Port Edwards Kp 6.4
- Port Washington Kp 6.6
- Portage Kp 6.5
- Portland Kp 6.5
- Potosi Kp 6.7
- Potter Lake Kp 6.7
- Powers Lake Kp 6.7
- Poynette Kp 6.6
- Prairie du Chien Kp 6.7
- Prairie du Sac Kp 6.6
- Prentice Kp 6.2
- Prescott Kp 6.3
- Princeton Kp 6.5
- Pulaski Kp 6.3
R
- Racine Kp 6.7
- Randolph Kp 6.5
- Random Lake Kp 6.5
- Redgranite Kp 6.4
- Reedsburg Kp 6.6
- Reedsville Kp 6.4
- Reeseville Kp 6.6
- Rhinelander Kp 6.1
- Rib Lake Kp 6.2
- Rib Mountain Kp 6.3
- Rice Lake Kp 6.2
- Richfield Kp 6.6
- Richland Center Kp 6.6
- Richmond Kp 6.7
- Ridgeway Kp 6.7
- Rio Kp 6.6
- Ripon Kp 6.5
- River Falls Kp 6.3
- River Hills Kp 6.6
- Roberts Kp 6.3
- Rochester Kp 6.7
- Rockland Kp 6.5
- Rome Kp 6.4
- Rome Kp 6.6
- Rosendale Kp 6.5
- Rothschild Kp 6.3
- Roxbury Kp 6.6
- Rutland Kp 6.7
S
- Saint Croix Falls Kp 6.2
- Saint Francis Kp 6.6
- Saint Joseph Kp 6.5
- Saint Nazianz Kp 6.4
- Saint Peter Kp 6.5
- Salem Kp 6.7
- Sauk City Kp 6.6
- Saukville Kp 6.6
- Saxeville Kp 6.4
- Schofield Kp 6.3
- Sextonville Kp 6.6
- Seymour Kp 6.3
- Seymour Kp 6.3
- Sharon Kp 6.7
- Shawano Kp 6.3
- Sheboygan Kp 6.5
- Sheboygan Falls Kp 6.5
- Shell Lake Kp 6.1
- Sherry Kp 6.3
- Sherwood Kp 6.4
- Shiocton Kp 6.4
- Shorewood Kp 6.6
- Shorewood Hills Kp 6.6
- Shullsburg Kp 6.7
- Silver Lake Kp 6.4
- Silver Lake Kp 6.7
- Siren Kp 6.1
- Sister Bay Kp 6.2
- Slinger Kp 6.6
- Soldiers Grove Kp 6.6
- Solon Springs Kp 6
- Somers Kp 6.7
- Somerset Kp 6.3
- South Milwaukee Kp 6.7
- Sparta Kp 6.5
- Spencer Kp 6.3
- Spooner Kp 6.1
- Spring Green Kp 6.6
- Spring Valley Kp 6.3
- Stanley Kp 6.3
- Star Prairie Kp 6.3
- Stetsonville Kp 6.2
- Stevens Point Kp 6.3
- Stockbridge Kp 6.4
- Stoddard Kp 6.5
- Stoughton Kp 6.7
- Stratford Kp 6.3
- Strum Kp 6.4
- Sturgeon Bay Kp 6.3
- Sturtevant Kp 6.7
- Suamico Kp 6.3
- Sullivan Kp 6.6
- Sun Prairie Kp 6.6
- Superior Kp 5.9
- Superior Village Kp 6
- Suring Kp 6.2
- Sussex Kp 6.6
- Sylvan Kp 6.6
T
- Tainter Lake Kp 6.3
- Taycheedah Kp 6.5
- Theresa Kp 6.5
- Thiensville Kp 6.6
- Thorp Kp 6.3
- Three Lakes Kp 6.1
- Tichigan Kp 6.7
- Tigerton Kp 6.3
- Tomah Kp 6.5
- Tomahawk Kp 6.2
- Trempealeau Kp 6.5
- Turtle Lake Kp 6.2
- Twin Lakes Kp 6.7
- Two Rivers Kp 6.4
U
- Union Grove Kp 6.7
V
W
- Wabeno Kp 6.2
- Wales Kp 6.6
- Walworth Kp 6.7
- Washburn Kp 5.9
- Washington Kp 6.1
- Waterford Kp 6.7
- Waterloo Kp 6.6
- Watertown Kp 6.6
- Waubeka Kp 6.5
- Waukesha Kp 6.6
- Waunakee Kp 6.6
- Waupaca Kp 6.4
- Waupun Kp 6.5
- Wausau Kp 6.3
- Wausaukee Kp 6.2
- Wautoma Kp 6.4
- Wauwatosa Kp 6.6
- Wauzeka Kp 6.7
- Webster Kp 6.1
- West Allis Kp 6.6
- West Baraboo Kp 6.6
- West Bend Kp 6.6
- West Milwaukee Kp 6.6
- West Salem Kp 6.5
- Westby Kp 6.5
- Westfield Kp 6.5
- Weston Kp 6.3
- Weyauwega Kp 6.4
- Whitefish Bay Kp 6.6
- Whitehall Kp 6.4
- Whitelaw Kp 6.4
- Whitewater Kp 6.7
- Whiting Kp 6.4
- Wild Rose Kp 6.4
- Williams Bay Kp 6.7
- Wilton Kp 6.5
- Winchester Kp 6.4
- Wind Lake Kp 6.7
- Wind Point Kp 6.7
- Windsor Kp 6.6
- Winneconne Kp 6.4
- Wisconsin Dells Kp 6.5
- Wisconsin Rapids Kp 6.4
- Wittenberg Kp 6.3
- Wonewoc Kp 6.5
- Woodruff Kp 6.1
- Woodville Kp 6.3
- Wrightstown Kp 6.4
- Wyocena Kp 6.6
How far south each storm level reaches
NOAA’s space weather scales state the geomagnetic latitude each level of geomagnetic storm reaches, and the places its aurora has been seen from. The geographic latitudes are those lines converted with the geomagnetic dipole; the aurora sits low on the northern horizon there, and overhead far poleward of it.
| Storm | Geomagnetic | Central US | Eastern US | Northern Europe | NOAA says the aurora |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G1 MinorKp 5 | 60° | 52°N | 51°N | 61°N | commonly visible at high latitudes: northern Michigan and Maine |
| G2 ModerateKp 6 | 55° | 47°N | 46°N | 56°N | has been seen as low as New York and Idaho |
| G3 StrongKp 7 | 50° | 42°N | 41°N | 51°N | has been seen as low as Illinois and Oregon |
| G4 SevereKp 8 | 45° | 37°N | 36°N | 45°N | has been seen as low as Alabama and northern California |
| G5 ExtremeKp 9 | 40° | 32°N | 31°N | 40°N | has been seen as low as Florida and southern Texas |
Source: NOAA space weather scales, swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation. Below Kp 5 the oval contracts more slowly; this section runs the line from 66 degrees geomagnetic at Kp 0 to the scale’s 60 degrees at Kp 5.
Kp by 3-hour block
SWPC’s planetary K index forecast, three days ahead. Kp is a single number for the whole planet, from magnetometers around the world, on a scale of 0 to 9 in thirds.
| Block (UTC) | Kp | Level | Seen from | Central US |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.33 | Quiet | 64° geomag. | 56°N | |
| 1.67 | Quiet | 64° geomag. | 56°N | |
| 1.67 | Quiet | 64° geomag. | 56°N | |
| 1.33 | Quiet | 64° geomag. | 56°N | |
| 1.33 | Quiet | 64° geomag. | 56°N | |
| 1.33 | Quiet | 64° geomag. | 56°N | |
| 1.33 | Quiet | 64° geomag. | 56°N | |
| 1.67 | Quiet | 64° geomag. | 56°N | |
| 2.00 | Quiet | 64° geomag. | 55°N | |
| 1.67 | Quiet | 64° geomag. | 56°N | |
| 1.33 | Quiet | 64° geomag. | 56°N | |
| 0.67 | Quiet | 65° geomag. | 57°N | |
| 0.67 | Quiet | 65° geomag. | 57°N | |
| 1.67 | Quiet | 64° geomag. | 56°N | |
| 1.67 | Quiet | 64° geomag. | 56°N | |
| 1.67 | Quiet | 64° geomag. | 56°N | |
| 2.00 | Quiet | 64° geomag. | 55°N | |
| 1.67 | Quiet | 64° geomag. | 56°N | |
| 1.33 | Quiet | 64° geomag. | 56°N | |
| 0.67 | Quiet | 65° geomag. | 57°N | |
| 0.67 | Quiet | 65° geomag. | 57°N | |
| 1.67 | Quiet | 64° geomag. | 56°N | |
| 1.67 | Quiet | 64° geomag. | 56°N | |
| 3.33 | Unsettled | 62° geomag. | 54°N |
The forecast is for the planet, not for your sky. A block at Kp 5 means the field is disturbed enough for the aurora to reach 60 degrees geomagnetic somewhere along the night side; whether you see it depends on being on the night side, on darkness, and on the clouds.
Other states with aurora pages
- Alaska
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
What this means
Each place is placed by its geomagnetic latitude, measured from the geomagnetic dipole pole, and compared with the reach NOAA states for each storm level on its space weather scales: G1 (Kp 5) about 60 degrees geomagnetic, G2 55, G3 50, G4 45, G5 (Kp 9) 40. Reading that backwards gives the Kp a place needs. Below Kp 5 the oval contracts more slowly and the line runs from 66 degrees at Kp 0 to 60 at Kp 5.
The forecasts have different horizons and the pages keep them apart: OVATION is the only thing that knows whether an aurora is out now, and it reaches 30 to 90 minutes ahead; the planetary Kp forecast runs three days; the 27-day outlook names likely active days and is not a forecast of any one night. None of them knows the clouds, which is why a town page reads its own forecast for those.
Sources
From NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center: the OVATION aurora forecast, the planetary K index forecast, the 3-day forecast, the 27-day outlook, its watches, warnings and alerts, and the real-time solar wind. Read Sep 21, 05:10 UTC.