Unlikely
Best chance in New England: Bangor
Free push alerts built on NOAA space weather data, plus the 72-hour forecast, cloud cover and darkness window for Bangor.
Northern lights in the New England region are possible but uncommon: they need a Kp of 6 or more to reach this far south. AuroraMe tracks 17 locations across the New England region; 7 of them need only Kp 6, led by Caribou.
Cities Covered
17
Monitoring locations across New England
Magnetic Latitude Range
50.7°–56.2° MLAT
Prime aurora viewing latitudes
Required Kp Index
Kp 6.0–8.0
Minimum activity for visibility
Kp Requirements by Location
Bangor
54.1° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 6.0+ Horizon
Kp 7.0+ Optimal
Kp 8.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Burlington
53.8° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 7.0+ Horizon
Kp 8.0+ Optimal
Kp 9.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Concord
52.6° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 7.0+ Horizon
Kp 8.0+ Optimal
Kp 9.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Boston
51.7° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 7.0+ Horizon
Kp 8.0+ Optimal
Kp 9.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Caribou
56.2° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 6.0+ Horizon
Kp 7.0+ Optimal
Kp 8.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Presque Isle
56.0° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 6.0+ Horizon
Kp 7.0+ Optimal
Kp 8.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Best Dark Sky Viewing Locations
Interactive map showing dark sky preserves and Bortle class sites in New England. Click markers for details and directions.
Bortle 2
Mount Washington
Highest peak in Northeast, above clouds
170mi from boston95mi from portland
Mount Washington Auto Road, seasonal
Bortle 2
Northeast Kingdom
Vermont's darkest region
100mi from burlington220mi from boston
Interstate 91 to rural roads
Aurora Status by City
Bangor
Moderate aurora potential at 54.1° magnetic latitude. Northern lights appear during stronger storms when KP reaches 5+. Best chances in winter months.
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
Burlington
Moderate aurora potential at 53.8° magnetic latitude. Northern lights appear during stronger storms when KP reaches 5+. Best chances in winter months.
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
Concord
Moderate aurora potential at 52.6° magnetic latitude. Northern lights appear during stronger storms when KP reaches 5+. Best chances in winter months.
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
Boston
Located at 51.7° MLAT with decent aurora opportunities. Geomagnetic storms with KP 6+ can produce visible displays. Monitor forecasts for storm alerts.
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
Caribou
Favorable position at 56.2° magnetic latitude for aurora watching. Geomagnetic storms bring vivid displays, and dark skies with clear weather maximize visibility.
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Presque Isle
Favorable position at 56.0° magnetic latitude for aurora watching. Geomagnetic storms bring vivid displays, and dark skies with clear weather maximize visibility.
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Millinocket
Favorable position at 55.0° magnetic latitude for aurora watching. Geomagnetic storms bring vivid displays, and dark skies with clear weather maximize visibility.
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Pittsburg
Favorable position at 54.4° magnetic latitude for aurora watching. Geomagnetic storms bring vivid displays, and dark skies with clear weather maximize visibility.
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Rangeley
Favorable position at 54.3° magnetic latitude for aurora watching. Geomagnetic storms bring vivid displays, and dark skies with clear weather maximize visibility.
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Newport
Favorable position at 54.3° magnetic latitude for aurora watching. Geomagnetic storms bring vivid displays, and dark skies with clear weather maximize visibility.
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
St. Johnsbury
Moderate position at 53.8° magnetic latitude. Geomagnetic storms can push the auroral oval far enough south to show aurora low on the northern horizon here.
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Berlin
Moderate position at 53.8° magnetic latitude. Geomagnetic storms can push the auroral oval far enough south to show aurora low on the northern horizon here.
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Showing top 12 cities by current aurora activity and magnetic latitude. New England has 17 total aurora viewing locations.
View all 17 cities
Best Viewing Season in New England
Rangeley averages 2.2 clear nights a year with Kp at its threshold — aurora here is an event, not a season. Figures below are for Rangeley, the best-placed of the 17 locations we track in New England. 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 50.7°–56.2° MLAT
Cities Covered 17 locations
Winter Darkness 11.7 h in December
Dark Sky Sites 2 Bortle 1-3
Peak Aurora Months
Primary Peak September — 0.39 clear nights
Secondary Peak October — 0.32 clear nights
Third Best November — 0.31 clear nights
Clear Nights a Year 2.2 a year
Kp Needed Kp 6-8
Track with AuroraMe
Coverage All 17 cities
Advance Notice 30 minutes
Weather Integration Cloud cover
Predictions Best viewing times
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see the northern lights in New England?
Yes, New England region offers aurora viewing opportunities. Cities like Caribou (MLAT 56.2°) can see aurora at Kp 6.0+, while southern locations need Kp 8.0+. Best viewing is September–April during dark, clear nights.
Where are the darkest skies in New England?
The darkest locations include Mount Washington and Northeast Kingdom with Bortle class 2–2. These sites offer minimal light pollution for optimal aurora photography.
