Wisconsin · United States
Can I see the northern lights tonight in Wisconsin?
The same assessment applies at all 4 reference points. Forecast-time darkness and clouds permit a local check, but the activity map cannot guarantee a visible display.
| Reference point | Assessment | Local modeled activity | Cloud at forecast time | Fully dark (current or next night) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superior (north) | Check the poleward sky before travelling. | 1 · NOAA grid indicator | 45% | 18:29–05:16 |
| Wausau (central) | Check the poleward sky before travelling. | 0 · NOAA grid indicator | 2% | 18:20–05:05 |
| Madison (south) | Check the poleward sky before travelling. | 0 · NOAA grid indicator | 0% | 18:20–05:03 |
| Milwaukee (southeast) | Check the poleward sky before travelling. | 0 · NOAA grid indicator | 14% | 18:14–04:57 |
Indicators are NOAA OVATION grid values, not personal viewing probabilities. Each row is a separate calculation; none stands for the whole state. Darkness is astronomical darkness (Sun 18° below the horizon) in each point's local time.
Calculated local. NOAA forecast valid 6 Nov, 21:56 local; darkness and clouds are assessed at that time for each point.
Wisconsin runs from about 42.5° N at the Illinois border to about 47° N on Lake Superior. Modeled activity, cloud and darkness are therefore assessed separately at each reference point; no single number stands for the whole state.
Source: NOAA aurora viewing guidanceThe northern shoreline near Superior and the Bayfield peninsula faces open water to the north, the direction aurora appears from Wisconsin. Near Milwaukee and Madison, the city glow and a lower latitude make a display harder to see.
Source: GeoNames — WisconsinReference coordinates: Superior 46.721°, -92.104° · Wausau 44.959°, -89.630° · Madison 43.073°, -89.401° · Milwaukee 43.039°, -87.906° (America/Chicago).
