Northern lights in Maine tonight
The aurora forecast for Maine, hour by hour: the Kp index NOAA expects, how dark it gets, the Moon and the clouds, for the north of the state (Presque Isle) where the odds are best.
Low chance Sunday, October 25
The highest Kp expected after dark tonight is 3. Presque Isle (north Maine) needs about Kp 4 to see the aurora low on the northern horizon, and the sky cover forecast after dark averages 16%. The Moon is 100% lit.
| Time | Sky | Kp | Clouds | Moon | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 PM | Dark | 3.00 | 6% | 21° | Low chance |
| 8 PM | Dark | 3.00 | 7% | 31° | Low chance |
| 9 PM | Dark | 3.00 | 6% | 41° | Low chance |
| 10 PM | Dark | 3.00 | 6% | 49° | Low chance |
| 11 PM | Dark | 2.00 | 6% | 56° | Unlikely |
| 12 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 7% | 59° | Unlikely |
| 1 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 10% | 58° | Unlikely |
| 2 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 15% | 53° | Unlikely |
| 3 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 26% | 45° | Unlikely |
| 4 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 38% | 35° | Unlikely |
| 5 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 52% | 26° | Unlikely |
| 6 AM | Twilight | 2.00 | 65% | 16° | Not dark yet |
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 Maine
The farther north (in magnetic terms) you stand, the lower the Kp you need. From Presque Isle, an aurora usually shows low on the northern horizon once Kp reaches about 4; 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 Maine
Our own count from the official Kp archive: on how many nights each year the Kp index reached about 4 or more while it was dark at Presque Isle. Clouds are not counted, so the real number of nights with a visible aurora is lower. Over the last 10 years the average was 35.1 nights a year; in 2025 it was 77.
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 3 days with a largest Kp close to or above what Presque Isle needs: Oct 31 (Kp 5), Nov 1 (Kp 5), Nov 9 (Kp 4). The outlook is rough: it repeats the Sun's 27-day rotation and misses sudden storms.
| Day (UTC) | Largest Kp | At Presque Isle |
|---|---|---|
| Sun, Oct 25 | 3 | Low chance |
| 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 | Good chance |
| Sun, Nov 1 | 5 | Good chance |
| Mon, Nov 2 | 3 | Low chance |
| Tue, Nov 3 | 2 | Unlikely |
First 10 days shown. Full table: 27-day aurora forecast.
Where to watch in Maine
Maine is one of the best states in the Northeast for the aurora. Aroostook County around Presque Isle and the North Maine Woods are very dark, and displays there show up during moderate storms. Coastal fog and lake-effect clouds are less of an issue inland, but winter storms can close many roads.
In the north woods, lakes and open potato fields give clear northern horizons. On the coast, pick a headland that faces north or northeast.
- Aroostook State Park: lake and mountain state park just south of Presque Isle
- Baxter State Park: wilderness park around Mount Katahdin, north of Millinocket
- Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument: remote national monument east of Baxter State Park
- Acadia National Park: national park on Mount Desert Island, with high views from Cadillac Mountain
Nearby states
Questions people ask
Can you see the northern lights in Maine?
Yes, on active nights. From Presque Isle it takes about Kp 4, which happened on about 35.1 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.