Unlikely
Best chance in Great Lakes: Sault Ste. Marie
Free push alerts built on NOAA space weather data, plus the 72-hour forecast, cloud cover and darkness window for Sault Ste. Marie.
Northern lights in the Great Lakes region are possible but uncommon: they need a Kp of 5 or more to reach this far south. AuroraMe tracks 29 locations across the Great Lakes region; the lowest threshold, Kp 5, is at International Falls.
Cities Covered
29
Monitoring locations across Great Lakes
Magnetic Latitude Range
48.8°–57.2° MLAT
Prime aurora viewing latitudes
Required Kp Index
Kp 5.0–8.0
Minimum activity for visibility
Kp Requirements by Location
Sault Ste. Marie
55.6° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 6.0+ Horizon
Kp 7.0+ Optimal
Kp 8.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Duluth
55.5° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 6.0+ Horizon
Kp 7.0+ Optimal
Kp 8.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Minneapolis
53.6° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 7.0+ Horizon
Kp 8.0+ Optimal
Kp 9.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Green Bay
53.5° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 7.0+ Horizon
Kp 8.0+ Optimal
Kp 9.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Madison
52.0° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 7.0+ Horizon
Kp 8.0+ Optimal
Kp 9.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Milwaukee
52.0° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 7.0+ Horizon
Kp 8.0+ Optimal
Kp 9.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Aurora Status by City
Sault Ste. Marie
Favorable position at 55.6° magnetic latitude for aurora watching. Geomagnetic storms bring vivid displays, and dark skies with clear weather maximize visibility.
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
Duluth
Favorable position at 55.5° magnetic latitude for aurora watching. KP 4+ storms bring vivid displays. Dark skies and clear weather maximize visibility.
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
Minneapolis
Located at 53.6° MLAT with decent aurora opportunities. Geomagnetic storms with KP 5+ can produce visible displays. Monitor forecasts for storm alerts.
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
Green Bay
Aurora possible at 53.5° magnetic latitude during active periods. KP 5+ required for visibility. Strong storms can bring impressive displays.
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
Madison
Moderate aurora potential at 52.0° magnetic latitude. Northern lights appear during stronger storms when KP reaches 5+. Best chances in winter months.
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
Milwaukee
Moderate position at 52.0° magnetic latitude. Geomagnetic storms can push the auroral oval far enough south to show aurora low on the northern horizon here.
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
Detroit
Located at 51.5° MLAT with decent aurora opportunities. Geomagnetic storms with KP 6+ can produce visible displays. Monitor forecasts for storm alerts.
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
Chicago
Located at 50.9° MLAT with decent aurora opportunities. Geomagnetic storms with KP 6+ can produce visible displays. Monitor forecasts for storm alerts.
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
Cleveland
Aurora reaches Cleveland during strong geomagnetic storms at 50.7° magnetic latitude. Watch the northern horizon from a dark spot away from city lights.
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
Columbus
Aurora reaches Columbus during strong geomagnetic storms at 49.1° magnetic latitude. Watch the northern horizon from a dark spot away from city lights.
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
Indianapolis
Aurora reaches Indianapolis during strong geomagnetic storms at 48.8° magnetic latitude. Watch the northern horizon from a dark spot away from city lights.
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
International Falls
Strong northern position at 57.2° magnetic latitude. Aurora reaches International Falls regularly during active periods, so darkness and cloud cover usually decide the night.
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Showing top 12 cities by current aurora activity and magnetic latitude. Great Lakes has 29 total aurora viewing locations.
Best Viewing Season in Great Lakes
International Falls averages 5.0 clear nights a year with Kp at its threshold — aurora here is an event, not a season. Figures below are for International Falls, the best-placed of the 29 locations we track in Great Lakes. They describe a typical year built from the 1996-2026 planetary Kp record and the 2001-2020 cloud normal — not a forecast. Each city page shows tonight's live cloud, moon and darkness instead.
Geographic Advantages
Magnetic Latitude 48.8°–57.2° MLAT
Cities Covered 29 locations
Winter Darkness 11.8 h in December
Dark Sky Sites 0 Bortle 1-3
Peak Aurora Months
Primary Peak October — 0.68 clear nights
Secondary Peak September — 0.66 clear nights
Third Best August — 0.57 clear nights
Clear Nights a Year 5.0 a year
Kp Needed Kp 5-8
Track with AuroraMe
Coverage All 29 cities
Advance Notice 30 minutes
Weather Integration Cloud cover
Predictions Best viewing times
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see the northern lights in Great Lakes?
Yes, Great Lakes region offers aurora viewing opportunities. Cities like International Falls (MLAT 57.2°) can see aurora at Kp 5.0+, while southern locations need Kp 8.0+. Best viewing is September–April during dark, clear nights.
Where are the darkest skies in Great Lakes?
Check our city pages for specific dark sky recommendations near each location.
