Northern lights may be visible in 10 states, including Wisconsin, on Oct. 3 and 4

The first supermoon of 2025 may not be the only celestial treat Wisconsinites have to look forward to in the coming days.

The northern lights may be visible as far south as central Wisconsin on Oct. 3, according to a forecast from NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center. There’s also a chance for the northern portion of the states to see the display Oct. 4.

Friday’s forecast has a Kp index of four while Saturday’s has a Kp index of three. If the lights are visible, they will likely be “brighter and there will be more auroral activity” when they’re in the three to five KP index range since they’re further from the poles , according to the SWPC.

Aside from the general viewline forecast, the SWPC also has a tool that provides a short-term forecast, showing the lights’ location and intensity for the next 30 to 90 minutes.

More: October’s full moon will be ‘largest and brightest’ of 2025. What to know in Wisconsin

What will the weather be like in Wisconsin this weekend?

Wisconsin’s nighttime weather will be optimal for seeing the lights over the next two days, National Weather Service forecasts indicate. The night sky is expected to be mostly clear in Green Bay, Appleton, Wausau and Stevens Point on Oct. 3 and 4.

What are tips for watching the northern lights?

The lights are typically best “within an hour or two” of midnight, meaning you should keep an eye out between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., per the SWPC.

The best part of the year for catching the lights is around the equinoxes. The fall equinox took place on Sept. 22.

“Due to subtleties in the way the solar wind interacts with Earth’s magnetosphere, there is a tendency towards larger geomagnetic storms, and thus better auroras, to occur near the equinoxes,” the SWPC said.

You should also head away from city lights and seek out high vantage points for a better view. You can find more tips from the SWPC at https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/tips-viewing-aurora.

What are the best places in Wisconsin to watch the aurora borealis?

Here’s a list of Wisconsin locations that could offer some of the best views of the night sky:

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Can I see the northern lights tonight in Wisconsin?