Can you see the northern lights in Oregon?
Yes, but rarely — it takes a severe geomagnetic storm. In Astoria you need a Kp of about 6.7; in Medford, about 7.4. Seeing the aurora from southern Oregon 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 Oregon
Tonight (Thu Oct 8, 2026): forecast peak Kp 5.7 in Oregon.
| City | Kp needed | Tonight's peak | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Astoria, OR | 6.7 | 5.7 | Unlikely |
| Portland, OR | 6.8 | 5.7 | Unlikely |
| Bend, OR | 7.1 | 5.7 | Unlikely |
| Medford, OR | 7.4 | 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 Oregon
Where to see the northern lights in Oregon
- Prineville Reservoir State Park (Crook County, near Prineville). Certified an International Dark Sky Park in 2021, the first park in Oregon to earn the designation. Staff replaced harsh outdoor lights with softer, low-skyglow lighting, and evening-only visitors need a stargazing permit to use the day-use viewing area. Source
- Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary (Lake County (Plush, Adel and Summer Lake area)). Certified by DarkSky International in March 2024 at about 2.5 million acres in remote southeastern Oregon, with plans to expand beyond 11 million acres. The Bureau of Land Management manages more than half of it, and eight agencies agreed to a shared lighting plan. Source
- Sunriver (Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory) (Deschutes County, south of Bend). Named a Dark Sky Development of Distinction in 2020, Oregon's first Dark Sky Place. The community limits outdoor lighting and keeps street lights few, and it sits at the base of the Cascades inside Deschutes National Forest. Source
New to aurora watching? See what Kp means and when to look.
Good to know
- On January 19, 2026, aurora photos were taken across Oregon, including at Timberline on Mt. Hood, Astoria, Fort Stevens and Waldport. Source