Northern Lights in Minnesota Tonight

Live aurora forecasts for 20 Minnesota locations, the Kp threshold each one needs, and the state's best dark-sky viewing spots.

Space weather right nowLivefrom NOAA satellites

Reading the solar wind…

Kp · global activity…0 calm – 9 extreme stormBz · field tilt…negative = aurora fuelSolar wind speed…fast wind stirs stormsAurora power…energy lighting the sky now

Live forecast by city

City	Eye tonight	Camera tonight	Eye needs	Camera needs	Overhead at
Warroad	…	…	Kp 3.5+	Kp 2+	Kp 4.5+	Live forecast →
Roseau	…	…	Kp 3.5+	Kp 2+	Kp 5+	Live forecast →
Baudette	…	…	Kp 3.5+	Kp 2+	Kp 5+	Live forecast →
International Falls	…	…	Kp 3.5+	Kp 2+	Kp 5+	Live forecast →
Thief River Falls	…	…	Kp 3.5+	Kp 2+	Kp 5+	Live forecast →
Ely	…	…	Kp 3.5+	Kp 2+	Kp 5+	Live forecast →
Grand Marais	…	…	Kp 3.5+	Kp 2+	Kp 5+	Live forecast →
Bemidji	…	…	Kp 4+	Kp 2.5+	Kp 5.5+	Live forecast →
Hibbing	…	…	Kp 4+	Kp 2.5+	Kp 5.5+	Live forecast →
Grand Rapids	…	…	Kp 4+	Kp 2.5+	Kp 5.5+	Live forecast →
Two Harbors	…	…	Kp 4+	Kp 2.5+	Kp 5.5+	Live forecast →
Duluth	…	…	Kp 4+	Kp 2.5+	Kp 5.5+	Live forecast →
Moorhead	…	…	Kp 4.5+	Kp 3+	Kp 6+	Live forecast →
Brainerd	…	…	Kp 4.5+	Kp 3+	Kp 6+	Live forecast →
Alexandria	…	…	Kp 4.5+	Kp 3.5+	Kp 6+	Live forecast →
St. Cloud	…	…	Kp 5+	Kp 3.5+	Kp 6.5+	Live forecast →
Minneapolis	…	…	Kp 5+	Kp 3.5+	Kp 6.5+	Live forecast →
St. Paul	…	…	Kp 5+	Kp 3.5+	Kp 6.5+	Live forecast →
Bloomington	…	…	Kp 5+	Kp 3.5+	Kp 6.5+	Live forecast →
Rochester	…	…	Kp 5.5+	Kp 4+	Kp 7+	Live forecast →

Eye/camera tonight = chance of seeing (or photographing) aurora at some point tonight, from the Kp forecast, cloud forecast, and moon. Camera threshold = the Kp at which a phone night-mode shot picks up aurora your eyes can't see yet.

Best dark-sky viewing spots in Minnesota

Boundary Waters Canoe Area ↗

Bortle 1

International Dark Sky Sanctuary

A million-acre certified Dark Sky Sanctuary, the darkest sky in the eastern half of the US.

Voyageurs National Park ↗

Bortle 1

International Dark Sky Park

Minnesota's aurora crown jewel: certified dark skies at the 49th parallel over big open lakes.

Cook County / Grand Marais ↗

Bortle 2

The North Shore's aurora capital: Lake Superior gives a flat, dark northern horizon.

Free Minnesota sky alerts, no app required

One email when aurora conditions align at your location, plus meteor reminder and go-time emails for peaks worth watching. Web alerts cover one US location per email.

Northern lights in Minnesota: FAQ

›Can you see the northern lights in Minnesota?

Yes, with the right geomagnetic activity. The best-placed location we track in Minnesota is Warroad (magnetic latitude 57.3°), which needs roughly Kp 3.5 for aurora on the northern horizon. Displays that strong happen roughly 10–25 nights per year near solar maximum. Every city's live forecast is linked below.

›When is the best time to see the northern lights in Minnesota?

September through April, roughly 10 PM to 2 AM local time. Geomagnetic activity statistically peaks around the equinoxes (September/October and March/April), and long dark nights beat summer twilight. We're near the maximum of Solar Cycle 25, so 2026–2027 is prime time.

›Where are the best places to watch aurora in Minnesota?

Minnesota's standout dark-sky locations are Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Voyageurs National Park, Cook County / Grand Marais. The recipe anywhere: minimal light pollution and an unobstructed view to the north.

›What Kp index do I need in Minnesota?

It varies across the state: Warroad needs about Kp 3.5, while Rochester needs about Kp 5.5. Phone cameras capture aurora roughly one Kp level earlier than eyes at every location.