Aurora Forecast Tonight in Minnesota
Aurora season in Minnesota runs from September to April.
Tonight's Forecast
Low
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How we calculate the aurora score
LowWe combine geomagnetic activity (Kp), aurora oval probability (OVATION), cloud cover, darkness and moonlight, weighted for Minnesota (region: high_latitude).
Score 0–19. Conditions strongly limit aurora visibility.
Score 20–44. A faint aurora is possible only under perfect conditions.
Score 45–64. Aurora may be visible to alert observers in dark, clear skies.
Score 65–84. A good chance of a visible aurora display.
Score 85–100. Excellent odds — plan to be outside tonight.
Low chance tonight. Aurora may be possible only under very favorable local conditions.
Aurora visibility in Minnesota is low tonight. A stronger geomagnetic storm or better local conditions would improve the chance of seeing the Northern Lights.
Max Kp
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Max Kp
Below thresholdKp is below the minimum needed at this latitude.
1.7
Below threshold
Cloud Cover
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Cloud Cover
Clear skiesUp to 25% cloud — excellent visibility.
1%
Clear skies
Moon
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Moon
Moderate moonlight25–75% illuminated — faint aurora may be washed out.
60%
Moderate moonlight
OVATION
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OVATION
LowLess than 5% probability — aurora unlikely to reach this location.
0%
Low
Best Viewing Window
1:00 AM – 3:00 AM
Best balance of darkness, geomagnetic activity and local sky conditions.
Direction to Look
Overhead or north
This is a high-latitude location, so aurora may appear overhead or toward the northern sky.
Recommendation
Check the forecast again later. Aurora conditions can change quickly during geomagnetic activity.
Hour-by-hour visibility
Estimated aurora visibility score for each hour of tonight at Minnesota.
12:00 AM
33/100Max Kp
1.7
Cloud Cover
26%
Moon
60%
OVATION
0%
38
1:00 AM
38/100Max Kp
1.7
Cloud Cover
1%
Moon
60%
OVATION
0%
39
2:00 AM
39/100Max Kp
1.7
Cloud Cover
0%
Moon
60%
OVATION
0%
3:00 AM
37/100Max Kp
1.3
Cloud Cover
2%
Moon
60%
OVATION
0%
4:00 AM
35/100Max Kp
1.3
Cloud Cover
9%
Moon
60%
OVATION
0%
Best viewing window: 1:00 AM – 3:00 AM. Peak around 2:00 AM with a visibility score of 39/100.
Why this forecast?
There is a low chance of visible aurora tonight. Some conditions may help, but overall the forecast does not strongly support visibility.
Score breakdown
How tonight's aurora score for Minnesota breaks down into activity and visibility components.
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Geomagnetic activity
2 / 30Geomagnetic activity (Kp 1.7) contribution to the score.
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Aurora oval probability
0 / 30OVATION aurora oval probability (0%) contribution.
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Cloud cover
14 / 20Cloud cover (31%) contribution — clear skies score full points.
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Darkness
15 / 15Sky darkness contribution — astronomical darkness scores full points.
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Moonlight
2 / 5Moon illumination (60%) contribution — new moon scores full points.
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Aurora zone
+5 ptsLatitude/zone bonus for Minnesota.
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Geomagnetic activity (Kp index)
Below thresholdKp measures how disturbed Earth's magnetic field is on a 0–9 scale. Higher Kp pushes the aurora oval toward the equator. Minnesota needs Kp ≥ 3.
Kp is below the minimum needed at this latitude.
Kp is close to the minimum needed — a faint aurora may appear low on the horizon.
Kp meets the threshold for visible aurora here.
Kp is comfortably above the local threshold.
Storm-level Kp ≥ 5 — aurora can be seen far south of its usual zone.
Below threshold
Geomagnetic activity is below the usual visibility threshold for Minnesota: expected Kp is 1.7, while this location usually needs around 3.
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Cloud cover
Clear skiesAverage cloud cover during the best viewing window. Clear skies are essential — even thin overcast hides the aurora.
Up to 25% cloud — excellent visibility.
25–50% cloud — aurora may peek through gaps.
50–85% cloud — most of the sky is blocked.
Over 85% cloud — aurora effectively hidden.
Clear skies
Skies are mostly clear, which is favorable for seeing the aurora.
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Sky darkness
Astronomical darknessAurora is faint and needs a dark sky. Astronomical darkness (sun more than 18° below horizon) is ideal.
Sun stays above 6° below horizon all night — no aurora-friendly darkness.
Sun 6–12° below horizon — too bright for faint aurora.
Sun 12–18° below horizon — sky is dark but not fully astronomical.
Sun more than 18° below the horizon — fully dark sky.
Astronomical darkness
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Moon illumination
Moderate moonlightA bright moon washes out faint aurora colours. New moon is ideal; full moon hides everything but the strongest displays.
Less than 25% illuminated — minimal interference.
25–75% illuminated — faint aurora may be washed out.
Over 75% illuminated — only strong displays will be visible.
Moderate moonlight
Moonlight is moderate tonight and may slightly reduce aurora visibility.
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Aurora oval probability (OVATION)
LowNOAA's OVATION model estimates the chance of aurora visible overhead within a 250 km radius of you.
Less than 5% probability — aurora unlikely to reach this location.
5–20% probability — aurora possible.
20–40% probability — aurora likely if skies are clear.
Over 40% probability — aurora very likely overhead.
Low
The aurora oval probability is low for this location tonight.
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Aurora zone
Good zoneHow favourable Minnesota's latitude is for aurora viewing in general — independent of tonight's conditions.
Lower latitude — aurora is rare and requires a major storm.
Mid-latitude — aurora visible only during moderate-to-strong storms.
High-latitude region — aurora is visible on most active nights.
Directly under the auroral oval — aurora is a regular occurrence.
Good zone
Minnesota is in a good aurora region, where aurora is possible during moderate geomagnetic activity.
Data sources
- · NOAA SWPC Kp forecast
- · NOAA OVATION aurora model
- · Open-Meteo cloud forecast
Aurora Forecast AI Tracker
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Best Months to See the Northern Lights in Minnesota
The aurora season in Minnesota usually runs from September to April.
Minnesota sits at 55.5° magnetic latitude, which means aurora typically becomes visible when the Kp index reaches 3.0+. As a high-latitude location, sightings are frequent during strong solar activity. The best time to visit for the northern lights is generally between September and April.