Northern lights in Indiana tonight
The aurora forecast for Indiana, hour by hour: the Kp index NOAA expects, how dark it gets, the Moon and the clouds, for the north of the state (South Bend) where the odds are best.
Unlikely Sunday, October 25
The highest Kp expected after dark tonight is 3. South Bend (north Indiana) needs about Kp 7 to see the aurora low on the northern horizon, and the sky cover forecast after dark averages 28%. The Moon is 100% lit.
| Time | Sky | Kp | Clouds | Moon | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 PM | Dark | 3.00 | 23% | 18° | Unlikely |
| 9 PM | Dark | 3.00 | 23% | 29° | Unlikely |
| 10 PM | Dark | 3.00 | 24% | 40° | Unlikely |
| 11 PM | Dark | 2.00 | 24% | 50° | Unlikely |
| 12 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 26% | 59° | Unlikely |
| 1 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 29% | 64° | Unlikely |
| 2 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 31% | 64° | Unlikely |
| 3 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 31% | 58° | Unlikely |
| 4 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 30% | 49° | Unlikely |
| 5 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 30% | 39° | Unlikely |
| 6 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 32% | 29° | Unlikely |
| 7 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 34% | 18° | 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 Indiana
The farther north (in magnetic terms) you stand, the lower the Kp you need. From South Bend, 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 Indiana
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 South Bend. 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 South Bend 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 South Bend |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Indiana
Indiana has one strong advantage: the Lake Michigan shoreline in the northwest faces north across open water. That makes the dunes near Michigan City one of the best aurora spots in the Midwest during strong storms. Farther south the odds drop fast, and Indianapolis sees displays far less often.
Stand on a north-facing beach along Lake Michigan and look out over the water. Inland, pick open fields away from towns.
- Indiana Dunes National Park: national park on the Lake Michigan shore between Gary and Michigan City
- Indiana Dunes State Park: lakeshore state park near Chesterton, inside the national park area
- Potato Creek State Park: lake state park southwest of South Bend
- Pokagon State Park: lake state park near Angola, in the northeast corner
Nearby states
Questions people ask
Can you see the northern lights in Indiana?
Yes, on active nights. From South Bend 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.