Northern Lights in Washington Tonight
Live aurora forecasts for 14 Washington locations, the Kp threshold each one needs, and the state's best dark-sky viewing spots.
Reading the solar wind…
Live forecast by city
| City | Eye tonight | Camera tonight | Eye needs | Camera needs | Overhead at | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colville | … | … | Kp 4.5+ | Kp 3+ | Kp 6+ | Live forecast → |
| Bellingham | … | … | Kp 5+ | Kp 3.5+ | Kp 6.5+ | Live forecast → |
| Winthrop | … | … | Kp 5+ | Kp 3.5+ | Kp 6+ | Live forecast → |
| Port Angeles | … | … | Kp 5+ | Kp 3.5+ | Kp 6.5+ | Live forecast → |
| Everett | … | … | Kp 5+ | Kp 3.5+ | Kp 6.5+ | Live forecast → |
| Spokane | … | … | Kp 5+ | Kp 3.5+ | Kp 6.5+ | Live forecast → |
| Seattle | … | … | Kp 5.5+ | Kp 4+ | Kp 7+ | Live forecast → |
| Bellevue | … | … | Kp 5.5+ | Kp 4+ | Kp 7+ | Live forecast → |
| Wenatchee | … | … | Kp 5.5+ | Kp 4+ | Kp 7+ | Live forecast → |
| Tacoma | … | … | Kp 5.5+ | Kp 4+ | Kp 7+ | Live forecast → |
| Olympia | … | … | Kp 5.5+ | Kp 4+ | Kp 7+ | Live forecast → |
| Yakima | … | … | Kp 5.5+ | Kp 4+ | Kp 7+ | Live forecast → |
| Kennewick | … | … | Kp 6+ | Kp 4.5+ | Kp 7.5+ | Live forecast → |
| Vancouver | … | … | Kp 6.5+ | Kp 5+ | Kp 8+ | 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.
Free Washington 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 Washington: FAQ
›Can you see the northern lights in Washington?
Yes, with the right geomagnetic activity. The best-placed location we track in Washington is Colville (magnetic latitude 54.6°), which needs roughly Kp 4.5 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 Washington?
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 Washington?
Anywhere with minimal light pollution and an unobstructed northern horizon: rural roads, lakeshores, and ridgetops on the northern side of town all work.
›What Kp index do I need in Washington?
It varies across the state: Colville needs about Kp 4.5, while Vancouver needs about Kp 6.5. Phone cameras capture aurora roughly one Kp level earlier than eyes at every location.