Minnesota: Northern Lights Tonight, City by City
Aurora season in Minnesota runs from September to April.
Minnesota tonight
Moderate
Best aurora chance tonight, Minnesota: Moderate. Best place: Duluth, 10:00 PM–12:00 AM. Clouds are the limit there: about 68% cover tonight.
| Place | Aurora Score | Best viewing window | Cloud cover | Min Kp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth | 56Moderate | 10:00 PM–12:00 AM | 68% | 4 |
| Minneapolis | 38Low | 10:00 PM–12:00 AM | 91% | 5 |
| Saint Paul | 37Low | 10:00 PM–12:00 AM | 97% | 5 |
Aurora Forecast AI Tracker
Get aurora alerts for Minnesota
Track the aurora forecast for Minnesota 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.
- Smart aurora alerts
- Best viewing window
- Hourly forecast
- Saved locations
Minnesota in numbers
- Cities on this site
- 3
- Latitude
- 45.0°–46.8°
- Geomagnetic latitude
- 54.2°–55.9°
- Min Kp
- 4–5
- Aurora zone
- Mid-latitude
Best Months to See the Northern Lights in Minnesota
The aurora season in Minnesota usually runs from September to April.
Where the odds are best in Minnesota
| Place | Aurora zone | Min Kp | Geomagnetic latitude | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸DuluthMinnesota | Mid-latitude | 4 | 55.9° | September to April |
| 🇺🇸MinneapolisMinnesota | Mid-latitude | 5 | 54.2° | September to April |
| 🇺🇸Saint PaulMinnesota | Mid-latitude | 5 | 54.2° | September to April |
Other regions in United States
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see the Northern Lights in Minnesota tonight?
Minnesota: it depends on where you are and on tonight's sky. Duluth needs about Kp 4; Saint Paul 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 Minnesota?
Minnesota 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: Duluth needs about Kp 4, Saint Paul about Kp 5. Each city's page gives its own threshold.
What are the best months to see the Northern Lights in Minnesota?
September to April, with February, March, October, November the darkest stretch — though at this latitude the season is set by how often a storm reaches you, not by daylight.
Where is the best place to see the Northern Lights in Minnesota?
Minnesota: of the places in this list, Duluth needs the least — about Kp 4 — while Saint Paul needs about Kp 5. Wherever you are, a dark sky away from city lights matters more than the exact spot.