Aurora Forecast and Prediction for Providence, Rhode Island
Kp: 1.67 | Bz: 1.78
Best Viewing Window: 6:35 PM – 6:35 AM EDT (12h 0m) · peak hours typically 10:35 PM – 2:35 AM
Best Viewing Window:
6:35 PM – 6:35 AM EDT Space Weather Now
Timing: Tonight · Signal Strength: High
3-Day Forecast for Providence, Rhode Island
Oct 15
Kp 2.7 is short of the roughly Kp 7 the aurora needs to clear the northern horizon from Providence.
Global: Quiet planetary conditions expected - aurora mostly confined to the far north.
Best time to look up: 11:00 PM–2:00 AM EDT
20% chance of elevated activity · Kp 2.67 during viewing window
Oct 16
Kp 1.7 is short of the roughly Kp 7 the aurora needs to clear the northern horizon from Providence.
Global: Quiet planetary conditions expected - aurora mostly confined to the far north.
Best time to look up: 8:00 PM–11:00 PM EDT
15% chance of elevated activity · Kp 1.67 during viewing window
Oct 17
Kp 1.7 is short of the roughly Kp 7 the aurora needs to clear the northern horizon from Providence.
Global: Quiet planetary conditions expected - aurora mostly confined to the far north.
Best time to look up: 5:00 PM–8:00 PM EDT
15% chance of elevated activity · Kp 1.67 during viewing window
Aurora Oval & Satellite & Sun
Interactive Aurora Globe
Satellite View
Sunspots
Current sunspot number: 124
Coronal Mass Ejections
Aurora Photography by Todd Salat
Original prints from Todd Salat's collection.
White Satin
Kenai Mountains · 2017
AK Caboose
Portage Depot, Alaska · 2021
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Talkeetna, Alaska · 2009
Solar Wind & IMF (GSM)
- Bt
- 4.9 nT
- Bx
- 3.7 nT
- By
- -2.6 nT
- Bz
- 1.78 nT
- Clock Angle θ
- 21.3°
- Cone Angle φ
- 325.1°
- Speed
- 452 km/s
- Density
- 3.6 p/cc
IMF Detail (GSE) & Source
- Bx
- 3.7 nT
- By
- -2.8 nT
- Bz
- 1.2 nT
- θ Angle
- 13.9°
- φ Angle
- 322.4°
- Satellite
- SOLAR-1
- Data Quality
- Good
- Reading Time
- Oct 15, 6:26 PM EDT
Geomagnetic Indices
- Kp (now)
- 1.67
- Dst
- -14 nT
- HPI
- 7 GW
- Sunspot Number
- 124
Aurora Model
- Ovation Value
- 0
- Ovation Label
- None
- Model Data Time
- Oct 15, 7:19 PM EDT
- Ovation Data
- Live
Scores & Ratings
- Aurora Visibility
- 0 · Poor
- Aurora Visibility (w/ Moon)
- 0 · Poor
- Prediction Score
- 0 · Little to None
Sky & Location
- Cloud Cover
- 0% · Clear
- Clouds, Next Dark Window
- 49% · Few Clouds · ×0.85
- Aurora Visibility Tonight
- 0 · Poor (Outlook Tonight 0 × cloud 0.85)
- Solar Elevation
- -5.6° · Civil Twilight
- Moon Phase
- Waxing Crescent
- Moon Illumination
- 22%
- Moon Altitude
- 15.5° · Up
- Latitude
- 41.82399
- Longitude
- -71.41283
- Geomagnetic Latitude
- 51.2°
- Horizon Threshold
- Kp 7
- Overhead Threshold
- Kp 8
Prediction Model Inputs
- Bz Persistence (60min)
- 0.5 nT
- Newell Coupling
- 1309
- Latitude Gate
- 0.00 now · 0.00 tonight (horizon Kp 6.5)
- Dynamic Pressure
- 1.2 nPa
- Storm Watch (CME)
- —
- Watch Predicted Kp
- —
Timing & Signal Strength
- Timing
- Tonight
- Signal Strength
- High
- L1 Delay
- ~55 min
- Magnetic Midnight
- 12:35 AM (peak hours 10:35 PM – 2:35 AM)
- Best Viewing Window
- 6:35 PM – 6:35 AM EDT (12h 0m)
3-Day Kp Forecast
| EDT | Oct 16 | Oct 17 | Oct 18 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00 PM–11:00 PM | 2.33 | 1.67 | 1.67 |
| 11:00 PM–2:00 AM | 2.67 | 1.67 | 1.67 |
| 2:00 AM–5:00 AM | 2 | 1.33 | 1.33 |
| 5:00 AM–8:00 AM | 1.67 | 1.33 | 1.33 |
| 8:00 AM–11:00 AM | 1.67 | 1.33 | 1.33 |
| 11:00 AM–2:00 PM | 2 | 1.33 | 1.33 |
| 2:00 PM–5:00 PM | 2 | 1.33 | 1.33 |
| 5:00 PM–8:00 PM | 2.67 | 1.67 | 1.67 |
| Max | 2.67 | 1.67 | 1.67 |
| Ap Index | 8 | 5 | 5 |
Storm Probability
| Level | Oct 16 | Oct 17 | Oct 18 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active | 20% | 15% | 15% |
| Minor storm | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| Moderate storm | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| Strong-Extreme storm | 1% | 1% | 1% |
Planetary K-index
Interplanetary Magnetic Field Bz-0.4 nT now
Southward (negative) Bz favors aurora. Observed data only, no forecast product exists for Bz.
Total IMF Field Bt4.6 nT now
Total interplanetary magnetic field strength - the ceiling on how negative Bz can go. A rising Bt alongside a still-fluctuating Bz often leads a stronger southward turn. Observed data only, no forecast product exists for Bt.
Global Storm Trend10 global now
Global (hemisphere-wide, not this city) prediction score over the last 24 hours, logged every 5 minutes - may differ from the Prediction ring above, which is specific to this location and time of night. Red above 70, yellow 50-70, teal below 50 - same thresholds used everywhere else on this page. Dashed line is the overall trend.
Dst History-14 nT now
Kyoto Dst geomagnetic storm index over the last 24 hours. Negative = ring-current energy stored = an active storm, not just predicted. Red below −50nT, yellow −20 to −50nT, teal above −20nT.
Solar Wind Speed & Pressure
Each line is scaled independently to its own 24h range (different units) - watch the shape, not a shared axis. A rising speed line or a pressure spike can signal an incoming stream or shock before Bz/Dst move.
Nerd Mode: See what’s really driving the score. Live solar wind, Bz, Kp, Dst, CME timing, and more. Data comes from NOAA SWPC and the Kyoto WDC, with a few metrics calculated here from the raw data. Live data refreshes every minute; trend charts every five.
Aurora Forecasts for Nearby Cities
Checking conditions somewhere else tonight? These are the closest cities with their own northern lights prediction.
- Boston 41 mi
- Hartford 66 mi
- Concord 96 mi
- Albany 133 mi
- New York 155 mi
- Jersey City 158 mi
- Newark 162 mi
- Montpelier 178 mi
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