Minneapolis, MN · magnetic latitude 54.2°
Northern lights in Minneapolis: tonight’s chance
The Twin Cities sit on the boundary between a moderate storm and a minor one, and the metro glow decides the rest.
Tonight at Minneapolis, MN
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Reading the SWPC Kp forecast and the cloud forecast…
| Kp forecast during the dark hours | not yet forecast |
|---|---|
| Kp needed here | 5.9 (G2 moderate) |
| Cloud cover in the dark hours | loading |
| Dark sky (Sun 18° down) | 8:08 PM to 5:50 AM CDT |
| Moon | 13% lit |
| Right now, OVATION (30 to 90 min) | loading or unavailable |
| Magnetic latitude (AACGM) | 54.2° |
Hour by hour, CDT
7 PM
Kp –
– ☁
No
8 PM
Kp –
– ☁
No
9 PM
Kp –
– ☁
No
10 PM
Kp –
– ☁
No
11 PM
Kp –
– ☁
No
12 AM
Kp –
– ☁
No
1 AM
Kp –
– ☁
No
2 AM
Kp –
– ☁
No
3 AM
Kp –
– ☁
No
4 AM
Kp –
– ☁
No
5 AM
Kp –
– ☁
No
6 AM
Kp –
– ☁
No
Rules checked · Built by Radif Partners · How the answer works
- Kp to see it from Minneapolis
- 5.9
- Storm level needed
- G2 (Moderate)
- Kp for aurora overhead
- 5.9
- Most clear dark hours
- January
From Minneapolis and St. Paul you need a planetary Kp of about 5.9 to see the northern lights, a G2 (Moderate) storm on the NOAA scale, right at the boundary with G1. The metro lies at 54.2 degrees magnetic latitude in the AACGM model, and in this site's method the edge of the oval reaches overhead at about the same Kp, 5.9. An hour north the threshold drops: St. Cloud needs Kp 5.7 and Duluth 5.0, while Rochester, to the south, needs 6.3. Full darkness lasts 11.7 hours on December 15 and 3.3 hours on June 15. NASA POWER cloud averages for the metro go from 46% in July to 69% in December, and January, September and November give the most clear dark hours. The tool below checks the forecast hour by hour for the Twin Cities against National Weather Service sky cover.
Two downtowns and a wide light dome
The Twin Cities add up to one of the larger light domes in the upper Midwest, and it spreads in every direction from the two downtowns along the Mississippi. That glow is the real limit here, more than latitude. At 54.2 degrees magnetic latitude, Minneapolis is close enough to the oval that the lowest Kp bringing aurora into view, 5.9, is also the Kp at which the oval edge stands overhead in this site's method. In other words, when the metro is in range at all, the activity tends to spread across a large part of the sky rather than hug the horizon. What the glow erases is the soft lower arc that shows first.
Inside the cities, the north shores of the larger lakes help a little: a stretch of open water to the north pushes the nearest lights back. For a real view, though, the metro has to be left behind.
Which way out of the Twin Cities
North and northwest are the useful directions, because the sky you need to see is ahead of you and the city glow ends up at your back. Interstate 94 toward St. Cloud and the highways toward the lake country around Mille Lacs both reach dark farmland and lakeshores without a long drive, and each mile north trims the threshold a little: St. Cloud, 0.6 degrees of latitude higher, needs 0.2 Kp less. The St. Croix valley to the northeast is darker than the suburbs but its bluffs can block a low view, so climb out of the valley rather than stay by the river. Going south toward Rochester is the wrong way on both counts.
What Kp does this town need?
Kp to see aurora from here
5.9
| Magnetic latitude (AACGM) | 54.2° |
| Kp for aurora overhead | 5.9 |
| Storm level | G2 Moderate |
| How often that level comes | about 360 days per 11-year cycle |
View line: the more southern of the SWPC oval rule and the NOAA G scale latitudes at each Kp.
Minnesota winters and the clear-night calendar
The clearest Twin Cities skies come with a quiet pattern: a ridge of high pressure from Canada, cold air, light wind. That is why January ranks first for clear dark hours here despite deep cold, while December sits at 69% average cloud amount, the greyest month. September and October offer a softer option, with long enough nights and the equinox months that SWPC associates with more geomagnetic activity. The best time guide explains that seasonal effect, and the Duluth page shows what a lower threshold looks like at the head of Lake Superior.
Kp needed around Minneapolis
| Town | Magnetic latitude | Kp to see it | Kp overhead | Storm level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Falls | 57.6° | 4.2 | 4.2 | no storm |
| Ely | 57.0° | 4.5 | 4.5 | no storm |
| Bemidji | 56.5° | 4.7 | 4.8 | G1 (Minor) |
| Duluth | 55.9° | 5.0 | 5.0 | G1 (Minor) |
| St. Cloud | 54.7° | 5.7 | 5.7 | G1 (Minor) |
| Minneapolis | 54.2° | 5.9 | 5.9 | G2 (Moderate) |
| Rochester | 53.3° | 6.3 | 6.3 | G2 (Moderate) |
Darkness and clouds by month in Minneapolis
| Month | Dark hours | Dark sky, 15th | Mean cloud | Clear dark hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 11.4 h | 6:41 PM to 6:03 AM | 62% | 4.3 h |
| February | 10.2 h | 7:19 PM to 5:34 AM | 61% | 4.0 h |
| March | 8.8 h | 8:57 PM to 5:45 AM | 67% | 2.9 h |
| April | 6.9 h | 9:46 PM to 4:39 AM | 61% | 2.7 h |
| May | 4.8 h | 10:44 PM to 3:34 AM | 63% | 1.8 h |
| June | 3.3 h | 11:33 PM to 2:53 AM | 58% | 1.4 h |
| July | 4.1 h | 11:16 PM to 3:21 AM | 46% | 2.2 h |
| August | 6.1 h | 10:13 PM to 4:21 AM | 49% | 3.1 h |
| September | 8.1 h | 9:04 PM to 5:12 AM | 49% | 4.2 h |
| October | 9.8 h | 8:05 PM to 5:52 AM | 59% | 4.0 h |
| November | 11.1 h | 6:26 PM to 5:29 AM | 63% | 4.1 h |
| December | 11.7 h | 6:18 PM to 5:58 AM | 69% | 3.6 h |