Northern lights in Wisconsin tonight
The aurora forecast for Wisconsin, hour by hour: the Kp index NOAA expects, how dark it gets, the Moon and the clouds, for the north of the state (Ashland) where the odds are best.
Unlikely Sunday, October 25
The highest Kp expected after dark tonight is 3. Ashland (north Wisconsin) needs about Kp 5 to see the aurora low on the northern horizon, and the sky cover forecast after dark averages 82%. The Moon is 100% lit.
| Time | Sky | Kp | Clouds | Moon | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 PM | Twilight | 3.00 | 84% | 15° | Not dark yet |
| 8 PM | Dark | 3.00 | 85% | 25° | Clouds in the way |
| 9 PM | Dark | 3.00 | 86% | 35° | Clouds in the way |
| 10 PM | Dark | 2.00 | 87% | 45° | Clouds in the way |
| 11 PM | Dark | 2.00 | 86% | 53° | Clouds in the way |
| 12 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 84% | 59° | Clouds in the way |
| 1 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 83% | 60° | Clouds in the way |
| 2 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 82% | 57° | Clouds in the way |
| 3 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 82% | 50° | Clouds in the way |
| 4 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 81% | 41° | Clouds in the way |
| 5 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 74% | 32° | Unlikely |
| 6 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 67% | 22° | 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 Wisconsin
The farther north (in magnetic terms) you stand, the lower the Kp you need. From Ashland, 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 Wisconsin
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 Ashland. Clouds are not counted, so the real number of nights with a visible aurora is lower. Over the last 10 years the average was 23 nights a year; in 2025 it was 49.
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 Ashland 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 Ashland |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Good chance |
| Sun, Nov 1 | 5 | Good chance |
| Mon, Nov 2 | 3 | Unlikely |
| Tue, Nov 3 | 2 | Unlikely |
First 10 days shown. Full table: 27-day aurora forecast.
Where to watch in Wisconsin
Northern Wisconsin sees the aurora often for the lower 48, especially along Lake Superior near Ashland, Bayfield and Superior. Door County, reaching into Lake Michigan, is also very dark. Milwaukee and Madison need bigger storms, and lake-effect clouds are a factor along both lakes in late fall.
North-facing Lake Superior shores and open lakes in the north woods give clear views.
- Apostle Islands National Lakeshore: Lake Superior islands and shore near Bayfield
- Newport State Park: certified dark sky park in Door County
- Copper Falls State Park: waterfall state park near Mellen, south of Ashland
Nearby states
Questions people ask
Can you see the northern lights in Wisconsin?
Yes, on active nights. From Ashland it takes about Kp 5, which happened on about 23 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.