aurora visibility now
Unlikely
Wait for darkness
Bellingham in United States sits at magnetic latitude 42.5°, requiring Kp 9+ for aurora visibility. Aurora is unlikely tonight, but conditions can change rapidly. Check the live forecast below or download AuroraMe for real-time alerts.
What affects visibility
Aurora Zone
Higher magnetic latitude = better aurora visibility. Your location's magnetic latitude determines how often auroras appear overhead.
Status Levels:
PerfectAbove 62.0° - Excellent aurora visibility (daily activity)
Good56.0° - 62.0° - Good aurora visibility (regular storms)
Acceptable50.0° - 56.0° - Fair aurora visibility (strong storms only)
LowBelow 50.0° - Poor aurora visibility (extreme storms)
Aurora Zone
Low 42.5°
Kp index
Kp measures global magnetic disturbance. Higher Kp = stronger auroras visible at lower latitudes.
Status Levels:
StormKp 6-9 - Geomagnetic storm, strong auroras
GoodKp 3-6 - Moderate activity, good conditions
LowKp 1-3 - Low activity, weak auroras
Very QuietKp 0-1 - Very quiet, minimal auroras
Kp index
Very Quiet 0.7
Cloud Cover Impact
Clear skies are essential for aurora viewing. Clouds block your view of the northern lights. The percentage shows cloud coverage (0% = clear skies, 100% = overcast).
Status Levels:
ClearClear (0-25%) - Perfect for aurora viewing
Partly CloudyPartly Cloudy (26-50%) - May partially block view
CloudyCloudy (51-85%) - Significantly blocks aurora
OvercastOvercast (85%+) - Blocks aurora completely
Cloud Cover Impact
☀️ Clear
Moonlight
Bright moonlight can wash out faint auroras. New moon provides the darkest skies for optimal viewing.
Status Levels:
New MoonDarkest skies - Best for faint auroras
CrescentDim moonlight - Good for viewing
QuarterModerate moonlight - May wash out weak auroras
GibbousBright moonlight - Reduces aurora visibility
Full MoonVery bright - Only strong auroras visible
Moonlight
🌒 Crescent 11%
Darkness
Darker skies are essential for aurora viewing. The sun must be below the horizon for auroras to be visible.
Status Levels:
NightDarkest conditions - Optimal for auroras
Astronomical TwilightDark enough - Good aurora viewing
Nautical TwilightGetting darker - Weak auroras may appear
DaylightSun is above horizon - No aurora visible
Darkness
Daylight
Forecast
Time
Kp
Visibility
15.04, Today
08:00
2.3
Unlikely
09:00
2.3
Unlikely
10:00
2.3
Unlikely
11:00
2.3
Unlikely
12:00
2.3
Unlikely
13:00
2.3
Unlikely
14:00
1.7
Unlikely
16.04, Tomorrow
17:00
1.7
Unlikely
20:00
2.7
Unlikely
23:00
2.7
Unlikely
02:00
2.3
Unlikely
05:00
1.7
Unlikely
08:00
1.7
Unlikely
11:00
1.7
Unlikely
14:00
2.3
Unlikely
17.04, Friday
17:00
2.3
Unlikely
20:00
2.7
Unlikely
23:00
4.0
Unlikely
02:00
3.7
Unlikely
05:00
3.3
Unlikely
08:00
2.7
Unlikely
11:00
3.3
Unlikely
14:00
3.7
Unlikely
18.04, Saturday
17:00
4.3
Unlikely
See Exactly When to Look Up
3-day precision forecast — know the best hour
Kp Index — 27-Day Forecast
Predicted geomagnetic activity based on solar rotation cycle.
...
aurora nights per year
Kp ≥ 9 · 11 years of data
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
#1
Sep Loading data...
Planning a trip? Find the best month and how many nights to stay
📅 All 12 months ranked 🛏️ Min nights for 80% chance 🔔 Push alert 1h before aurora 🌙 72h hour-by-hour forecast
Get Alerted Before Aurora Appears
Push alerts 20–90 min before northern lights. 72h forecast, cloud cover, 11 years of historical data.
Smart Alerts before spikes
Short-term outlook for the next few days
Multiple locations
Trip Planner: Best Days & Best Month
Aurora is Rare in Bellingham — But Not Impossible
Kp 9+ needed to see aurora here
0 possible aurora nights in the next 27 days
Sep, Oct, Mar, Apr best months to visit
Aurora Borealis Viewing in Bellingham
Bellingham sits at 42.5° magnetic latitude, which means aurora typically becomes visible when the Kp index reaches 9+. Aurora sightings in Bellingham require stronger geomagnetic storms (Kp 9+), which occur a few times per year. When storms do hit, the best viewing window is 10 PM to 2 AM local time under clear, dark skies.
Cloud cover is the most common reason people miss aurora even during strong storms. AuroraMe combines the Kp index with real-time cloud forecasts, moon phase, and darkness data to give you a single visibility status — so you know whether it's worth going outside tonight.
Other cities in United States
Kaktovik
Arctic community with exceptional polar aurora viewing and polar night displays
CURRENT STATUS
Temporarily Unavailable
View
Barrow
Arctic community with exceptional polar aurora viewing and polar night displays
CURRENT STATUS
Temporarily Unavailable
View
Nuiqsut
Far northern Alaska city with outstanding aurora visibility and dark winter skies
CURRENT STATUS
Temporarily Unavailable
View
Atqasuk
Far northern Alaska city with outstanding aurora visibility and dark winter skies
CURRENT STATUS
Temporarily Unavailable
View
Wainwright
Far northern Alaska city with outstanding aurora visibility and dark winter skies
CURRENT STATUS
Temporarily Unavailable
View
Anaktuvuk Pass
Far northern Alaska city with outstanding aurora visibility and dark winter skies
CURRENT STATUS
Temporarily Unavailable
View
Planning a trip? See the best months for Bellingham → • Northern lights tonight — all cities →
Learn More About the Northern Lights
Northern Lights in Bellingham: Quick Guide
Minimum Kp Needed
8.0+
Viewing Frequency
extremely rare
Current Kp Index
0.7
How often can you see northern lights in Bellingham?
Based on its magnetic latitude of <strong>42.5°</strong>, aurora viewing in Bellingham is <strong>extremely rare (visible only during exceptional geomagnetic storms)</strong>. We are currently near solar maximum (2024-2025), so expect higher-than-average activity.
Best viewing season: September to March, with peak activity during equinoxes (September and March).
What Kp index do I need to see aurora in Bellingham?
For Bellingham, you need a minimum Kp index of <strong>8.0</strong> for aurora to be visible. This threshold is calculated based on the city's magnetic latitude (42.5°).
Higher Kp values produce brighter, more active displays:
- Kp 8.0-9.0: Faint aurora visible in dark skies
- Kp 9.0-10.0: Moderate aurora with dancing patterns
- Kp 10.0+: Strong, colorful displays visible even with some light pollution
Current Kp index: 0.7
Where should I look for aurora in Bellingham?
Aurora is rarely visible this far south. When it does appear during extreme storms (Kp 7+), look for a faint glow on the northern horizon.
For best results, seek locations with minimal light pollution and unobstructed views of the sky. From Bellingham, aurora typically remains closer to the horizon, so elevated viewing locations help.
Can I see northern lights tonight in Bellingham?
Unlikely: Aurora unlikely tonight with Kp 0.7 (below 8.0 threshold for Bellingham). Enable alerts to catch future opportunities.
Real-time conditions: 4% cloud cover, aurora probability 0%. Check the live forecast above for the latest updates.
Traveling? Track multiple locations easily
Compare aurora chances across cities and get alerts for all your planned destinations.
For brighter shows consider Fairbanks , Yellowknife