Seattle Could See Rare Northern Lights Tonight—Exact Forecast Timing & Best Viewing Spots

Seattle could witness a rare burst of aurora borealis color as a severe G4 geomagnetic storm sweeps over the Pacific Northwest tonight, pushing the “view line” as far south as northern California according to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center. The agency’s short-term model shows elevated KP indices after sunset, giving Puget Sound stargazers their best chance in years to spot the northern lights without leaving the state. When and where to look • Peak forecast window: 10:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. PT, with lingering activity possible until 3 a.m. • Direction: face due north; if large pillars develop they can arc overhead. • Dark-sky hot spots near Seattle: – Hurricane Ridge and viewpoints along U.S. 101 – Snoqualmie Pass overlooks (Gold Creek, Franklin Falls lot) – Point No Point, Kitsap Peninsula – Ebey’s Landing and Fort Casey on Whidbey Island – Rattlesnake Lake or Snohomish River Valley fields for a quick city escape Weather outlook National Weather Service models call for mostly clear skies region-wide, with patchy low clouds hugging the coast. Urban light pollution remains the biggest obstacle, so even a short drive north or east improves odds dramatically. What causes the glow Tonight’s storm is fueled by a fast coronal mass ejection that left the Sun two days ago. Charged particles funnel into Earth’s magnetic field, collide with oxygen and nitrogen high in the atmosphere, and emit green, pink and violet ribbons that photographers chase worldwide. Tips for capturing the show • Use a tripod, 10-25 sec exposure, ISO 800-3200, f/2.8-4.0. • Activate night-mode on smartphones; most recent models can detect faint aurora invisible to the naked eye. • Turn off flashlights/phone screens while shooting to preserve night vision for everyone around you. Stay updated in real time Bookmark the 30-Minute Aurora Forecast from NOAA, watch the KP index (needs KP ≥ 5 for Seattle), and enable push alerts from trusted space-weather apps. If KP spikes to 6-7, even city dwellers may catch shimmering curtains above the skyline. Community note Early risers already reported brief green pulses over Lake Washington before dawn Sunday, proof that tonight’s display could be brighter and longer-lived. Share your best images with local media or astronomy clubs—this level of geomagnetic activity doesn’t visit Seattle often, so make the most of the window.