Northern Lights Tonight in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Live visibility odds for Minneapolis, combining the current geomagnetic Kp index with real local cloud cover, not just one or the other.

What Kp do you need in Minneapolis?

Those frequencies are how often the geomagnetic threshold itself is reached, before weather. Cloud cover, moonlight and local light pollution all cut into it, which is why the live score at the top of this page multiplies the geomagnetic odds by tonight's actual sky over Minneapolis.

Which way to look from Minneapolis

Face north. From Minneapolis the auroral oval sits well to the north, so activity shows up as a glow low on the northern horizon rather than overhead — which means a clear, unobstructed northern view matters more here than total darkness does.

About aurora viewing in Minneapolis

Minneapolis sits well south of Minnesota's classic aurora country up near Duluth and the Boundary Waters, but the Twin Cities have had real, widely photographed sightings during major storms, including events that made national news.

Where locals actually go

Getting even a short drive outside the metro area, away from the city's light dome, meaningfully improves your odds compared to viewing from downtown itself.

Best time of year

A Minneapolis sighting depends entirely on the strength of a given storm; check the live forecast the night of, rather than planning around the calendar the way you might further north.

Will I see the aurora in Minneapolis tonight?

Right now, Minneapolis has a 1% chance based on tonight's real conditions: Kp 1.7 and 29% clear skies. Unlikely. This updates live, so check back closer to dark for the most accurate read, especially if the sky is currently cloudy where you are.

A good Kp forecast isn't the whole story. See what else actually determines whether you'll see it →