Aurora Borealis in Kirkland
United States · 47.68°, -122.21° · geomagnetic 53.2° · needs Kp 7
Tonight's aurora forecast for Kirkland
1%
Peak chance of a visible display tonight, from the same model the Revon app runs. Kirkland needs Kp 7 to see anything at all, and tonight the forecast peaks at Kp 4.7. Short of the threshold, which is what most nights look like here.
Get the full 30-night forecast in Revon
Updated 2026-09-08 10:36 UTC
Local aurora guide for Kirkland
Auroras are typically visible when the planetary Kp index reaches 7 or higher. At Kirkland's geomagnetic latitude of 53.2°, this level of activity is infrequent.
On average, there are about 3.2 nights per year when conditions might be favorable for viewing auroras. Patience and persistence are key for observers in this region.
The best months for aurora viewing in Kirkland are typically May, August, and September. These months offer a good balance of darkness and potential aurora activity.
While auroras can occur year-round, the longer nights and clearer skies during these periods increase the chances of a sighting.
Kirkland experiences a Bortle 7 sky, indicating significant light pollution. For darker skies, areas like King County, approximately 35 km east-north-east, offer Bortle 4 conditions.
Local features such as Champaign Point, Mark Twain Park, Pontiac Bay, Totem Lake, and Willows Creek Neighborhood Park may offer varied views, but light pollution remains a factor.
Champaign Point, a cape located 3.4 km north-west of Kirkland, offers a potential vantage point.
Mark Twain Park, situated 3.5 km east-north-east of Kirkland, is another local area.
Pontiac Bay lies 4.1 km west of Kirkland, while Totem Lake is 4.1 km north-east. Willows Creek Neighborhood Park is located 4.3 km east of Kirkland.
Records from 2016 indicate 60 verified aurora sightings within 300 km of Kirkland. The data spans from April 2, 2016, to March 30, 2026.
Notable qualifying nights include March 20, 2026 (Kp 7.0), January 20, 2026 (Kp 7.67), and January 19, 2026 (Kp 8.67). Additional qualifying nights were November 12, 2025 (Kp 7.33) and November 11, 2025 (Kp 8.67).
Sources: Revon analysis of NOAA planetary Kp · Revon location dataset · Falchi 2016 World Atlas of artificial night sky brightness · GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) · Aurorasaurus verified positive reports
Know when it is worth going outside
Revon watches the Kirkland forecast and pushes an alert when the odds for tonight clear your threshold — no checking, no guessing.
Nearby towns
Forecasts for places within reach of Kirkland.