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Northern lights in Wisconsin

Yes. Northern Wisconsin sees the northern lights during moderate geomagnetic storms, and strong storms bring them to the whole state. The Lake Superior shore and the Apostle Islands combine dark skies with an open view north across the lake.

Tonight's northern lights forecast

Loading NOAA's Kp forecast…

How strong a storm each city in Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin the level ranges from Kp 6.3 (G2) in Green Bay to Kp 6.7 (G3) in Janesville.

CityGeomagnetic latitudeAurora usually needsTonight
Green Bay53.3°Kp 6.3 (G2)
Eau Claire53.4°Kp 6.3 (G2)
Wausau53.6°Kp 6.3 (G2)
Appleton53°Kp 6.4 (G3)
Oshkosh52.8°Kp 6.4 (G3)
La Crosse52.4°Kp 6.5 (G3)
Milwaukee51.8°Kp 6.6 (G3)
Madison51.8°Kp 6.6 (G3)
Kenosha51.4°Kp 6.7 (G3)
Janesville51.4°Kp 6.7 (G3)

How these levels are worked out: our methods.

How often you can see the aurora in Wisconsin

Wisconsin lies between NOAA’s examples for minor storms (northern Michigan) and strong storms (Illinois). The north woods and the Lake Superior shore get chances during moderate storms, which come on about 360 days per 11-year solar cycle. Southern Wisconsin usually needs a strong one, about 130 days per cycle. The table above shows the level for each city and how tonight’s forecast compares.

Where to watch

  • Apostle Islands National Lakeshore: Recreation.gov says the aurora’s greens and yellows reflect off Lake Superior here several times a year.
  • Big Bay State Park, Madeline Island: Travel Wisconsin says the park, on the island’s east side, is removed from light pollution and that night views can include the northern lights when conditions are right.
  • Newport State Park: at the tip of Door County on Lake Michigan, named an International Dark Sky Park in 2017, with 17 hike-in campsites.
  • Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest: Travel Wisconsin calls the 1.5-million-acre forest a class 2 dark site, with many campgrounds.

Notable sightings

On the night of May 10–11, 2024, a photographer in Arlington, in southern Wisconsin, captured the aurora in a panorama that NASA featured as an Astronomy Picture of the Day; the photographer reported that it seemed to flow from a point overhead but lit the sky only toward the north. During the October 10–11, 2024 storm, NASA’s Earth Observatory showed a NOAA-20 satellite image with ribbons of aurora over parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan.

Tips for Wisconsin

  • Plan for lake-effect clouds. The National Weather Service explains that cold air crossing the Great Lakes builds cloud and snow bands over downwind shores from late fall into winter. Skies a mile or two away from a band can stay clear.
  • Avoid city light domes. Milwaukee, Madison and Green Bay brighten a wide area of sky. In the south, head north or west into the farmland.
  • Look north over water. A lake with open shoreline to the north gives the low horizon you need when the aurora stays close to it.

Local resources

See certified dark-sky places near you and read how to see the northern lights for a planning checklist. Neighbors: Minnesota and Michigan.

Dark-sky places near Milwaukee

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

Questions and answers

Can you see the northern lights from Milwaukee or Madison?

During strong storms, yes, though usually as a low glow that a phone camera picks up more easily than your eyes. Drive away from the city lights toward the north for a better view.

Is Newport State Park open at night?

Newport State Park in Door County is a certified International Dark Sky Park and offers hike-in campsites, so you can stay after dark. Check the Wisconsin DNR page for current hours and rules.

Do the northern lights reflect off Lake Superior?

Yes, on calm nights. Recreation.gov notes that several times a year the aurora's colors reflect off the lake's surface around the Apostle Islands.

Other states

Sources