Can you see the northern lights in Indiana?
Yes, but rarely — it takes a severe geomagnetic storm. In South Bend you need a Kp of about 6.9; in Evansville, about 7.6. Seeing the aurora from southern Indiana is G4 (Severe) territory on NOAA's storm scale, and NOAA counts about 60 days per 11-year solar cycle at that level. Our table below also marks a city "possible" when the forecast is within one Kp of what it needs — the aurora may show low on the northern horizon, and phone cameras often pick it up before your eyes do. Source: NOAA Space Weather Scales.
Northern lights tonight in Indiana
Tonight (Thu Oct 8, 2026): forecast peak Kp 5.7 in Indiana.
| City | Kp needed | Tonight's peak | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Bend, IN | 6.9 | 5.7 | Unlikely |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 7.0 | 5.7 | Unlikely |
| Indianapolis, IN | 7.3 | 5.7 | Unlikely |
| Evansville, IN | 7.6 | 5.7 | Unlikely |
Space weather data from NOAA, updated . Refreshed every 5 minutes.
Kp needed comes from the NOAA Space Weather Scales, which give latitudes for Kp 6–9. Values for places north of about 55° geomagnetic latitude (including Alaska) are our extrapolation. NOAA notes that even at Kp 0 the edge of the auroral oval sits near 66° geomagnetic latitude, so interior Alaska can see aurora on quiet nights. How we calculate this.
Check your exact location: enter your ZIP code · get aurora alerts for Indiana
Where to see the northern lights in Indiana
- Kemil Beach, Indiana Dunes National Park (Beverly Shores, Porter County). The NPS says Lake Michigan to the north keeps the sky near the lakefront darker than the surrounding land, though nearby communities still add some light pollution. The beach lot is open 24 hours, and the NPS advises an open northern horizon for aurora. Source
- Beverly Shores (Porter County, on the Lake Michigan shore). In 2014 the International Dark-Sky Association named Beverly Shores the seventh International Dark Sky Community in the world. Indiana Dunes National Park surrounds it on its east, west and south sides. Source
- Shades State Park (Waveland, Parke County). Indiana DNR says this park has one of the darkest skies in Indiana. A permit from the park office is needed to stargaze after 11 p.m. Source
- Potawatomi Wildlife Park (North-central Indiana, near Bremen). The nonprofit park says it was recognized as Indiana's first dark-sky preserve in 2003 and rates its sky about Bortle 4 to 4.5. The observing field is open by emailing the park ahead of time. Source
New to aurora watching? See what Kp means and when to look.