Northern lights in Chicago tonight
The aurora forecast for Chicago, Illinois, hour by hour: the Kp index NOAA expects, darkness, the Moon and the cloud forecast for the city.
Unlikely Sunday, October 25
The highest Kp expected after dark tonight is 3. Chicago needs about Kp 7 to see the aurora low on the northern horizon, and the sky cover forecast after dark averages 38%. The Moon is 100% lit.
| Time | Sky | Kp | Clouds | Moon | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 PM | Dark | 3.00 | 32% | 17° | Unlikely |
| 8 PM | Dark | 3.00 | 36% | 28° | Unlikely |
| 9 PM | Dark | 3.00 | 30% | 39° | Unlikely |
| 10 PM | Dark | 2.00 | 38% | 49° | Unlikely |
| 11 PM | Dark | 2.00 | 32% | 58° | Unlikely |
| 12 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 30% | 64° | Unlikely |
| 1 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 25% | 64° | Unlikely |
| 2 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 34% | 59° | Unlikely |
| 3 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 36% | 50° | Unlikely |
| 4 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 43% | 40° | Unlikely |
| 5 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 55% | 30° | Unlikely |
| 6 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 67% | 19° | Unlikely |
Forecast from NOAA SWPC (Kp, 3-hour blocks) and the National Weather Service (sky cover), checked when this page was built. The page updates itself when it can reach our data feed.
What Kp you need in Chicago
The farther north (in magnetic terms) you stand, the lower the Kp you need. From Chicago, an aurora usually shows low on the northern horizon once Kp reaches about 7; overhead displays need about two steps more. A phone camera in night mode often records it one step earlier than the eye. How we estimate this: our method.
How often the aurora reaches Chicago
Our own count from the official Kp archive: on how many nights each year the Kp index reached about 7 or more while it was dark at Chicago. Clouds are not counted, so the real number of nights with a visible aurora is lower. Over the last 10 years the average was 2.4 nights a year; in 2025 it was 8.
Data: Kp index since 1932, GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences (Matzka et al., 2021), CC BY 4.0. Darkness computed by us for each 3-hour interval (Sun 12° or more below the horizon).
The next 27 days
NOAA's 27-day outlook has no day with a largest Kp near the 7 that Chicago needs. The outlook repeats the Sun's 27-day rotation and cannot see sudden storms, so check the 3-day forecast too.
| Day (UTC) | Largest Kp | At Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Sun, Oct 25 | 3 | Unlikely |
| Mon, Oct 26 | 2 | Unlikely |
| Tue, Oct 27 | 2 | Unlikely |
| Wed, Oct 28 | 2 | Unlikely |
| Thu, Oct 29 | 2 | Unlikely |
| Fri, Oct 30 | 2 | Unlikely |
| Sat, Oct 31 | 5 | Unlikely |
| Sun, Nov 1 | 5 | Unlikely |
| Mon, Nov 2 | 3 | Unlikely |
| Tue, Nov 3 | 2 | Unlikely |
First 10 days shown. Full table: 27-day aurora forecast.
Where to watch in Chicago
Chicago's light dome is one of the brightest in the Midwest, so even good displays look washed out from the city. People who catch the aurora usually drive north toward the Wisconsin line or northwest into the farm country. The lakefront faces east, which makes it a weak choice for a northern glow.
Once out of the suburbs, look for a field or lake with the north open and Chicago's glow behind you to the south.
- Illinois Beach State Park: lakeshore state park in Zion, about 45 miles north of downtown
- Chain O'Lakes State Park: lake and wetland park near Spring Grove, about 55 miles northwest
- Kettle Moraine State Forest, Southern Unit: Wisconsin state forest near Eagle, about 90 miles north
Questions people ask
Can you see the northern lights in Chicago, IL?
Yes, on active nights. From Chicago it takes about Kp 7, which happened on about 2.4 nights a year over the last 10 years (before clouds).
What time is best?
Usually between 10 pm and 2 am local time, when the sky is fully dark and your location faces the night side of the auroral oval. Storms can bring it earlier or later.
Which way should I look?
North, toward a low, open horizon away from city lights. In strong storms the aurora can climb higher or appear overhead.
Is this an official forecast?
No. It is our estimate built from NOAA's Kp forecast, the National Weather Service sky cover forecast and the Sun and Moon positions. It is not a promise.
Sources: Kp forecast and 27-day outlook: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (public domain). Sky cover: National Weather Service (public domain). Kp archive: GFZ, CC BY 4.0. Coordinates: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer. Sun and Moon: Astronomy Engine. Unofficial estimates, not a guarantee.
Page checked: October 25, 2026.