Can you see the northern lights in Alaska tonight?
Live aurora odds for Alaska — tonight's Kp versus the Kp 1.3 the state needs, plus where and when to look.
Tonight Alaska needs Kp 1.3; the current Kp is 3, so aurora odds over Alaska are good — Cosmik tracks it live, free.
🟢 Aurora is a real possibility over Alaska tonight
Tonight's forecast Kp reaches or beats the Kp 1.3 Alaska needs — get away from city lights and look north.
Kp now
3
Tonight max
5
Alaska needs
Kp 1.3
Geomag. latitude
63.5°
Live NOAA SWPC data, refreshed every 30 min. Get an alert for Alaska →
🌌 Kp 5 tonight — G1 storm
Alaska needs Kp 1.3. Aurora is possible from your area tonight.
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🌌 Kp 5 forecast for Alaska tonight
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Aurora across all of Alaska
The aurora season runs September through March, when nights are long and dark. Around the equinoxes (late September and March) geomagnetic activity statistically peaks, so those are the strongest windows for Alaska.
Track the aurora in Alaska cities
Each city page shows its own live Kp verdict — the odds shift with your exact latitude:
- Northern lights in Anchorage · needs Kp 2
- Northern lights in Fairbanks · needs Kp 0.2
- Northern lights in Seattle · needs Kp 6.5
- Northern lights in Portland · needs Kp 7.5
- Northern lights in Spokane · needs Kp 6.1
- Northern lights in Eugene · needs Kp 8.3
Northern lights in Alaska — FAQ
Can you see the northern lights in Alaska?
Yes, on the right night. Alaska needs the planetary Kp index to reach Kp 1.3 for the aurora to appear low on the northern horizon. That happens during geomagnetic storms — Cosmik shows tonight's live odds above so you know before you drive out.
What Kp does Alaska need for the northern lights?
Alaska needs a Kp of about 1.3 for the aurora to become visible from a dark site with a clear northern horizon. That figure comes from the state's geomagnetic latitude (63.5°): the higher your geomagnetic latitude, the lower the Kp you need.
When is the best time to see the aurora in Alaska?
Look between about 10 pm and 2 am local time, on a clear, moonless night, from a spot with no light pollution and an open view to the north. The season peaks September–March, and geomagnetic storms are most frequent near the equinoxes. Cosmik tracks the live Kp so you can catch the exact night it spikes.
