Northern lights in Minnesota: can you see them, and tonight's chances

How strong a storm each city in Minnesota needs

The farther a place is from the magnetic pole, the stronger the geomagnetic storm needed to push the aurora into view. These levels come from each city's geomagnetic latitude and NOAA's storm scale, which says how far south aurora is usually seen at each level. They are for aurora low on the northern horizon from a dark spot; overhead displays need more. Across Minnesota the level ranges from Kp 5.9 (G2) in Duluth to Kp 6.5 (G3) in Mankato.

City	Geomagnetic latitude	Aurora usually needs
Duluth	55.3°	Kp 5.9 (G2)
St. Cloud	53.9°	Kp 6.2 (G2)
Minneapolis	53.4°	Kp 6.3 (G2)
Willmar	53.4°	Kp 6.3 (G2)
Lakeville	53.1°	Kp 6.4 (G3)
Rochester	52.5°	Kp 6.5 (G3)
Mankato	52.6°	Kp 6.5 (G3)

How these levels are worked out: our methods.

How often you can see the aurora in Minnesota

Minnesota sits close to northern Michigan, NOAA’s example for minor storms. Along the Canadian border the aurora can show low on the northern horizon during minor storms, which NOAA’s scale counts on hundreds of days per solar cycle. Southern Minnesota usually needs a stronger storm. The table above shows the level each city needs and how tonight’s forecast compares.

Where to watch

Voyageurs National Park: Explore Minnesota notes the park is a certified International Dark Sky Park. The Park Service suggests the Ash River Visitor Center grounds, the Meadwood Road Day Use Area and the upper parking lot at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center. Winter’s long nights give the most time to watch.
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness: an International Dark Sky Sanctuary along the border, with more than 1,100 lakes, according to Explore Minnesota.
Cook County and the Gunflint Trail: Explore Minnesota notes frequent sightings over Lake Superior and along the Gunflint Trail.
Lake of the Woods and the Northwest Angle: Explore Minnesota describes panoramic views over the water and calls the Northwest Angle, the northernmost point in the continental US, prime dark-sky territory.

Notable sightings

During the May 10–11, 2024 storm, the strongest in more than two decades, NASA satellite images showed the aurora as a bright band across Minnesota and the other northern-tier states. During the October 10–11, 2024 storm, NOAA satellites again recorded ribbons of aurora crossing Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, as NASA’s Earth Observatory reported.

Tips for Minnesota

Use an inland lake’s south shore. Photographer Travis Novitsky told Explore Minnesota his favorite spot is the south shore of any inland lake in northeast Minnesota, looking north across open water.
Mind the North Shore’s direction. Along Lake Superior’s North Shore the lake lies to the south and east, so climb to an overlook or head inland up the Gunflint Trail for a clear view north.
Get out of the metro glow. The Twin Cities light the sky for a long way out. Even St. Cloud, Rochester and Duluth have their own light domes, so drive past them.
Dress for the cold. Winter nights, the longest of the year, are also the coldest, so bring warm layers.

Local resources

NOAA’s aurora dashboard shows tonight’s view line and a 30-minute forecast. Check certified dark-sky places for spots near you, and see how to see the northern lights for the full planning steps. Neighbors: Wisconsin and North Dakota.

Dark-sky places near Minneapolis

Certified dark-sky places are among the best spots to watch for aurora: little light pollution and, often, open views to the north.

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (International Dark Sky Sanctuary, 2020): 225 miles NE of Minneapolis.

Voyageurs National Park (International Dark Sky Park, 2020): 245 miles N of Minneapolis.

Newport State Park (International Dark Sky Park, 2017): 307 miles E of Minneapolis.

Keweenaw Dark Sky Park (International Dark Sky Park, 2022): 309 miles NE of Minneapolis.

Thousand Hills State Park (Urban Night Sky Place, 2024): 320 miles S of Minneapolis.

Questions and answers

Can you see the northern lights from Minneapolis or St. Paul?

Only during strong storms, and usually as a glow low in the north that shows better in photos. Driving an hour or more north, away from the metro's light, makes a big difference.

What is the best month to see the northern lights in Minnesota?

There isn't one. Explore Minnesota says no single season is especially likely to bring a display, though fall and winter's long nights make them popular, and the Park Service at Voyageurs says winter's longer darkness can raise your chances. In late spring and early summer the short nights cut your viewing time.

Why did my photo show the aurora when I saw only a gray glow?

A phone or camera collects light for several seconds and records color, while the eye's night vision is mostly colorless. Voyageurs National Park notes the lights usually look white or pale green to the eye, often as cloud-like patches, while photos show stronger color.

Northern lights in Minnesota

Tonight's northern lights forecast