Northern lights in Minnesota tonight
The aurora forecast for Minnesota, hour by hour: the Kp index NOAA expects, how dark it gets, the Moon and the clouds, for the north of the state (International Falls) where the odds are best.
Low chance Sunday, October 25
The highest Kp expected after dark tonight is 3. International Falls (north Minnesota) needs about Kp 4 to see the aurora low on the northern horizon, and the sky cover forecast after dark averages 27%. The Moon is 100% lit.
| Time | Sky | Kp | Clouds | Moon | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 PM | Twilight | 3.00 | 35% | 14° | Not dark yet |
| 8 PM | Dark | 3.00 | 32% | 24° | Low chance |
| 9 PM | Dark | 3.00 | 29% | 33° | Low chance |
| 10 PM | Dark | 2.00 | 26% | 42° | Unlikely |
| 11 PM | Dark | 2.00 | 24% | 50° | Unlikely |
| 12 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 21% | 56° | Unlikely |
| 1 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 19% | 58° | Unlikely |
| 2 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 22% | 56° | Unlikely |
| 3 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 26% | 50° | Unlikely |
| 4 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 29% | 42° | Unlikely |
| 5 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 32% | 33° | Unlikely |
| 6 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 34% | 24° | Unlikely |
| 7 AM | Twilight | 2.00 | 37% | 14° | 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 Minnesota
The farther north (in magnetic terms) you stand, the lower the Kp you need. From International Falls, 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 Minnesota
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 International Falls. Clouds are not counted, so the real number of nights with a visible aurora is lower. Over the last 10 years the average was 64.2 nights a year; in 2025 it was 124.
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 International Falls 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 International Falls |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Minnesota
Northern Minnesota is among the best aurora areas in the lower 48. The border country around International Falls, Ely and the Boundary Waters is very dark and sees displays fairly often. The Twin Cities need stronger storms, and a drive north of an hour or more pays off.
Lakes are everywhere up north, so pick one with an open shore facing north. On Lake Superior's North Shore the water faces southeast, so look north from inland clearings instead.
- Voyageurs National Park: water based national park east of International Falls
- Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness: wilderness of lakes in the Superior National Forest along the Canadian border
- Itasca State Park: state park at the headwaters of the Mississippi, north of Park Rapids
Nearby states
Questions people ask
Can you see the northern lights in Minnesota?
Yes, on active nights. From International Falls it takes about Kp 4, which happened on about 64.2 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.