Northern Lights Tonight in Seattle, Washington

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

What Kp do you need in Seattle?

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 Seattle.

Which way to look from Seattle

Face north. From Seattle 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 Seattle

Seattle is not a classic aurora destination, its magnetic latitude is too far south for the aurora to be a regular occurrence, but it isn't a long shot either: Seattle has had real, documented, photographed sightings during strong storms, including events covered by the National Weather Service's own Seattle office.

Where locals actually go

City light pollution is the main obstacle here; a spot with a clear northern horizon away from downtown, ideally somewhere elevated, gives the best chance during an active storm.

Best time of year

Treat a Seattle sighting as a genuine bonus tied to a specific storm night, not something to plan a trip around the way you would in Alaska or northern Minnesota.

Will I see the aurora in Seattle tonight?

Right now, Seattle has a 1% chance based on tonight's real conditions: Kp 1.7 and 75% 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 →