Ontario: Northern Lights Tonight, City by City
Aurora season in Ontario runs from September to April.
Ontario tonight
Moderate
Best aurora chance tonight, Ontario: Moderate. Best place: Thunder Bay, 3:00 AM–5:00 AM. Clouds are the limit there: about 69% cover tonight.
| Place | Aurora Score | Best viewing window | Cloud cover | Min Kp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunder Bay | 56Moderate | 3:00 AM–5:00 AM | 69% | 4 |
| Kingston | 55Moderate | 10:00 PM–1:00 AM | 4% | 5 |
| Sudbury | 53Moderate | 10:00 PM–12:00 AM | 84% | 4 |
| St. Catharines | 52Moderate | 10:00 PM–1:00 AM | 22% | 5 |
| Sault Ste. Marie | 51Moderate | 12:00 AM–3:00 AM | 92% | 4 |
| Ottawa | 51Moderate | 11:00 PM–1:00 AM | 28% | 5 |
| Peterborough | 50Moderate | 2:00 AM–4:00 AM | 32% | 5 |
| Toronto | 50Moderate | 10:00 PM–1:00 AM | 33% | 5 |
| Hamilton | 49Moderate | 11:00 PM–1:00 AM | 36% | 5 |
| Mississauga | 48Moderate | 1:00 AM–3:00 AM | 43% | 5 |
| Brampton | 46Moderate | 1:00 AM–3:00 AM | 52% | 5 |
| Guelph | 46Moderate | 2:00 AM–4:00 AM | 51% | 5 |
| Oshawa | 44Low | 3:00 AM–5:00 AM | 61% | 5 |
| Windsor | 41Low | 12:00 AM–3:00 AM | 78% | 5 |
| Barrie | 36Low | 10:00 PM–1:00 AM | 99% | 5 |
Ontario: the next nights
Aurora Forecast AI Tracker
Get aurora alerts for Ontario
Track the aurora forecast for Ontario with hourly visibility, cloud cover and geomagnetic activity. Save nearby viewing spots, check the best time to look for the Northern Lights, and receive alerts when local conditions improve.
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- Best viewing window
- Hourly forecast
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Ontario in numbers
- Cities on this site
- 15
- Latitude
- 42.3°–48.4°
- Geomagnetic latitude
- 51.5°–57.5°
- Min Kp
- 4–5
- Aurora zone
- Mid-latitude
Best Months to See the Northern Lights in Ontario
The aurora season in Ontario usually runs from September to April.
Where the odds are best in Ontario
| Place | Aurora zone | Min Kp | Geomagnetic latitude | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇦Thunder BayOntario | Mid-latitude | 4 | 57.5° | September to April |
| 🇨🇦Sault Ste. MarieOntario | Mid-latitude | 4 | 55.6° | September to April |
| 🇨🇦SudburyOntario | Mid-latitude | 4 | 55.3° | September to April |
| 🇨🇦OttawaOntario | Mid-latitude | 5 | 53.7° | September to April |
| 🇨🇦BarrieOntario | Mid-latitude | 5 | 53.2° | September to April |
| 🇨🇦PeterboroughOntario | Mid-latitude | 5 | 53.0° | September to April |
| 🇨🇦KingstonOntario | Mid-latitude | 5 | 52.7° | September to April |
| 🇨🇦OshawaOntario | Mid-latitude | 5 | 52.7° | September to April |
| 🇨🇦BramptonOntario | Mid-latitude | 5 | 52.5° | September to April |
| 🇨🇦TorontoOntario | Mid-latitude | 5 | 52.5° | September to April |
| 🇨🇦GuelphOntario | Mid-latitude | 5 | 52.5° | September to April |
| 🇨🇦MississaugaOntario | Mid-latitude | 5 | 52.4° | September to April |
| 🇨🇦HamiltonOntario | Mid-latitude | 5 | 52.1° | September to April |
| 🇨🇦St. CatharinesOntario | Mid-latitude | 5 | 52.0° | September to April |
| 🇨🇦WindsorOntario | Mid-latitude | 5 | 51.5° | September to April |
Other regions in Canada
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see the Northern Lights in Ontario tonight?
Ontario: it depends on where you are and on tonight's sky. Thunder Bay needs about Kp 4; Windsor needs about Kp 5. On top of that it takes a clear, dark sky — cloud blocks aurora at any Kp. The table at the top of this page has tonight's forecast city by city.
What Kp index is needed to see the Northern Lights in Ontario?
Ontario has no single number. The higher the Kp, the further from the pole the auroral oval reaches, so the threshold rises with distance from the pole: Thunder Bay needs about Kp 4, Windsor about Kp 5. Each city's page gives its own threshold.
What are the best months to see the Northern Lights in Ontario?
September to April, with November to February giving the most hours of real darkness. The March and September equinoxes carry a statistical tilt toward higher activity — a shift in the odds, not a promise for any one night.
Where is the best place to see the Northern Lights in Ontario?
Ontario: of the places in this list, Thunder Bay needs the least — about Kp 4 — while Windsor needs about Kp 5. Wherever you are, a dark sky away from city lights matters more than the exact spot.