Northern lights in Tri-Cities tonight
United States · latitude 46.2°
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Seeing the aurora from Tri-Cities
Honestly, Tri-Cities is a long way from the auroral oval, so the lights only reach here during strong storms (about Kp 6+), a handful of times a year. Keep an eye on the live forecast above — but for a trip you can actually plan around, head to one of the destinations below, which sit right under the oval.
Where the aurora is a sure thing
If you want to plan a trip rather than gamble on a storm, these sit under the auroral oval:
All best places to see the northern lights →FAQ — northern lights in Tri-Cities
Can you see the northern lights in Tri-Cities?
Tri-Cities only sees the aurora during strong geomagnetic storms — roughly Kp 6+, which happens a few times a year. For a reliable sighting, head to a destination under the auroral oval.
What Kp do you need to see the aurora in Tri-Cities?
Roughly Kp 6 or higher for the lights to reach Tri-Cities's latitude and appear low on the northern horizon.
When is the best time to see the northern lights in Tri-Cities?
On a dark, clear night around local midnight, away from city lights, ideally near a new Moon. Tonight the sky is properly dark from about 23:18.
Aurora chance is an estimate from the live NOAA Kp forecast and your latitude; the true viewline follows geomagnetic latitude and North America sees the lights a little further south. Always check a live forecast and local cloud cover before heading out.