Northern lights in Washington tonight
The aurora forecast for Washington, hour by hour: the Kp index NOAA expects, how dark it gets, the Moon and the clouds, for the north of the state (Bellingham) where the odds are best.
Unlikely Sunday, October 25
The highest Kp expected after dark tonight is 2. Bellingham (north Washington) needs about Kp 5 to see the aurora low on the northern horizon, and the sky cover forecast after dark averages 72%. The Moon is 100% lit.
| Time | Sky | Kp | Clouds | Moon | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 PM | Twilight | 3.00 | 81% | 14° | Not dark yet |
| 8 PM | Dark | 2.00 | 89% | 24° | Clouds in the way |
| 9 PM | Dark | 2.00 | 65% | 33° | Unlikely |
| 10 PM | Dark | 2.00 | 68% | 43° | Unlikely |
| 11 PM | Dark | 2.00 | 58% | 51° | Unlikely |
| 12 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 76% | 56° | Clouds in the way |
| 1 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 69% | 58° | Unlikely |
| 2 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 65% | 56° | Unlikely |
| 3 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 69% | 50° | Unlikely |
| 4 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 66% | 42° | Unlikely |
| 5 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 81% | 33° | Clouds in the way |
| 6 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 81% | 24° | Clouds in the way |
| 7 AM | Twilight | 2.00 | 81% | 15° | 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 Washington
The farther north (in magnetic terms) you stand, the lower the Kp you need. From Bellingham, an aurora usually shows low on the northern horizon once Kp reaches about 5; 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 Washington
Our own count from the official Kp archive: on how many nights each year the Kp index reached about 5 or more while it was dark at Bellingham. Clouds are not counted, so the real number of nights with a visible aurora is lower. Over the last 10 years the average was 10.8 nights a year; in 2025 it was 25.
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 2 days with a largest Kp close to or above what Bellingham needs: Oct 31 (Kp 5), Nov 1 (Kp 5). The outlook is rough: it repeats the Sun's 27-day rotation and misses sudden storms.
| Day (UTC) | Largest Kp | At Bellingham |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Possible |
| Sun, Nov 1 | 5 | Possible |
| Mon, Nov 2 | 3 | Unlikely |
| Tue, Nov 3 | 2 | Unlikely |
First 10 days shown. Full table: 27-day aurora forecast.
Where to watch in Washington
Washington gets the aurora during moderate storms, especially in the north near Bellingham and in the Okanogan. Clouds are the main issue west of the Cascades, so eastern Washington often has better odds. Seattle sees displays during strong storms if the sky clears.
North-facing beaches near the Canadian border or open eastern plateaus give the best views.
- Birch Bay State Park: beach state park north of Bellingham
- Steamboat Rock State Park: lake and butte state park on Banks Lake, eastern Washington
- Goldendale Observatory State Park: dark sky observatory park in south central Washington
Cities in Washington
Nearby states
Questions people ask
Can you see the northern lights in Washington?
Yes, on active nights. From Bellingham it takes about Kp 5, which happened on about 10.8 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.