United States393 places
Northern Lights in Washington, United States
In Washington the aurora is visible from about Kp 4, first near Spokane. Camano has the darkest skies among the larger places.
| Place | Kp needed | Kp for photos | Look towards | Light pollution | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane | 4.3 | 2.7 | NNE | City sky | 229,447 |
| Spokane Valley | 4.3 | 2.7 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 94,919 |
| Bellingham | 4.3 | 2.7 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 85,146 |
| Mount Vernon | 4.3 | 2.7 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 34,053 |
| Anacortes | 4.3 | 2.7 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 18,103 |
| Lynden | 4.3 | 2.7 | NNE | Suburban sky | 13,517 |
| Ferndale | 4.3 | 2.7 | NNE | Suburban sky | 13,010 |
| Cheney | 4.3 | 2.7 | NNE | Suburban sky | 11,534 |
| Sedro-Woolley | 4.3 | 2.7 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 10,815 |
| Everett | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 108,010 |
| Kirkland | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 87,281 |
| Marysville | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 66,773 |
| Redmond | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 60,598 |
| Shoreline | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 55,439 |
| Bothell | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 42,939 |
| Edmonds | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 41,375 |
| Lynnwood | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 36,997 |
| Wenatchee | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 33,636 |
| Pullman | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 32,816 |
| Lake Stevens | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Rural to suburban | 30,886 |
| North Creek | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Suburban sky | 26,410 |
| Picnic Point-North Lynnwood | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 22,953 |
| Inglewood-Finn Hill | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Suburban sky | 22,707 |
| Oak Harbor | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 22,693 |
| Cottage Lake | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Rural to suburban | 22,494 |
| Moses Lake | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 22,082 |
| Kenmore | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 22,030 |
| Mukilteo | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Suburban sky | 21,226 |
| West Lake Stevens | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Suburban sky | 21,047 |
| Mountlake Terrace | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 20,989 |
| Silver Firs | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Suburban sky | 20,891 |
| Eastmont | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Suburban sky | 20,101 |
| Mill Creek | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 20,043 |
| Port Angeles | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Suburban sky | 19,448 |
| Arlington | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Suburban sky | 18,949 |
| Union Hill-Novelty Hill | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Rural to suburban | 18,805 |
| Monroe | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 18,090 |
| Bothell West | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Suburban sky | 16,607 |
| Mill Creek East | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Suburban sky | 15,709 |
| Martha Lake | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 15,473 |
| Camano | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Pristine dark sky | 14,202 |
| East Wenatchee | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 13,659 |
| Woodinville | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 11,782 |
| Maltby | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Suburban sky | 10,830 |
| Poulsbo | 4.7 | 3 | NNE | Suburban sky | 10,041 |
| Seattle | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | City sky | 780,995 |
| Tacoma | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | City sky | 222,906 |
| Bellevue | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | City sky | 139,820 |
| Kent | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | City sky | 126,952 |
| Renton | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | City sky | 100,242 |
| Federal Way | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | City sky | 95,171 |
| Yakima | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | City sky | 93,701 |
| Auburn | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | City sky | 77,006 |
| Lakewood | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | City sky | 59,829 |
| Olympia | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 55,733 |
| South Hill | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Suburban sky | 52,431 |
| Burien | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 50,467 |
| Lacey | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 46,409 |
| Puyallup | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 39,659 |
| Bremerton | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 39,520 |
| Issaquah | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 36,081 |
| Parkland | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 35,803 |
| West Lake Sammamish | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Rural to suburban | 33,929 |
| University Place | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 32,842 |
| Des Moines | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 31,221 |
| East Hill-Meridian | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Suburban sky | 29,878 |
| SeaTac | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | City sky | 28,215 |
| Spanaway | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Suburban sky | 27,227 |
| Maple Valley | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Suburban sky | 25,686 |
| Mercer Island | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Suburban sky | 25,042 |
| Bainbridge Island | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Rural to suburban | 23,840 |
| Graham | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Suburban sky | 23,491 |
| Tukwila | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | City sky | 20,018 |
| Bonney Lake | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Suburban sky | 19,903 |
| Silverdale | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Suburban sky | 19,204 |
| Covington | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 19,197 |
| Fairwood | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 19,102 |
| Ellensburg | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 19,001 |
| Columbia City | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 19,000 |
| Frederickson | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Suburban sky | 18,719 |
| Bryn Mawr-Skyway | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | City sky | 15,645 |
| Elk Plain | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Rural to suburban | 14,205 |
| Port Orchard | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Suburban sky | 13,607 |
| White Center | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | City sky | 13,495 |
| Lake Forest Park | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Suburban sky | 13,243 |
| Lea Hill | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Suburban sky | 13,182 |
| Snoqualmie | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Rural to suburban | 13,169 |
| Lakeland North | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 12,942 |
| West Valley | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 12,655 |
| Enumclaw | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 11,609 |
| Lakeland South | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Suburban sky | 11,574 |
| Prairie Ridge | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Rural to suburban | 11,464 |
| Newcastle | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Suburban sky | 11,370 |
| East Renton Highlands | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Rural to suburban | 11,140 |
| Fort Lewis | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Suburban sky | 11,046 |
| Klahanie | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Rural to suburban | 10,674 |
| Vashon | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Rural to suburban | 10,624 |
| Lake Morton-Berrydale | 5 | 3.3 | NNE | Rural to suburban | 10,160 |
| Tri-Cities | 5.3 | 3.7 | NNE | Suburban sky | 244,036 |
| Kennewick | 5.3 | 3.7 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 78,896 |
| Pasco | 5.3 | 3.7 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 69,451 |
| Richland | 5.3 | 3.7 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 54,248 |
| Sammamish | 5.3 | 3.7 | NNE | Rural to suburban | 52,253 |
| Walla Walla | 5.3 | 3.7 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 32,237 |
| Tumwater | 5.3 | 3.7 | NNE | Suburban sky | 19,190 |
| Centralia | 5.3 | 3.7 | NNE | Suburban sky | 16,753 |
| Sunnyside | 5.3 | 3.7 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 16,325 |
| Aberdeen | 5.3 | 3.7 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 16,276 |
| West Richland | 5.3 | 3.7 | NNE | Rural to suburban | 13,746 |
| Grandview | 5.3 | 3.7 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 11,176 |
| Longview | 5.7 | 4 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 36,848 |
| Salmon Creek | 5.7 | 4 | NNE | Suburban sky | 19,686 |
| Orchards | 5.7 | 4 | NNE | City sky | 19,556 |
| Battle Ground | 5.7 | 4 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 19,407 |
| Five Corners | 5.7 | 4 | NNE | Suburban sky | 18,159 |
| Artondale | 5.7 | 4 | NNE | Rural to suburban | 12,653 |
| Kelso | 5.7 | 4 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 11,901 |
| Vancouver | 6 | 4.3 | NNE | City sky | 196,442 |
| Camas | 6 | 4.3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 21,846 |
| Hazel Dell | 6 | 4.3 | NNE | Bright suburban sky | 19,435 |
| Washougal | 6 | 4.3 | NNE | Suburban sky | 15,288 |
Best months in Washington
Share of nights 2005–2025 that were dark, active enough here and mostly clear.
September has been the best month (5% of nights), followed by April (4%).
All years Near solar maximum Near solar minimum
- Kp 0–2 Quiet Only under the auroral oval: northern Norway, Swedish and Finnish Lapland, Iceland, Alaska, northern Canada.
- Kp 3 Unsettled camera in Spokane Bright in the Arctic; low on the horizon in central Scandinavia and southern Iceland.
- Kp 4 Active eye in Spokane Overhead in the Arctic; low in the north from southern Norway, Sweden, Finland and northern Scotland.
- Kp 5 Minor storm (G1) Scotland, southern Scandinavia, the Baltic states, the northern US states and southern Canada.
- Kp 6 Moderate storm (G2) Northern England, Denmark, northern Germany and Poland, the US Midwest — often clearer in photos than to the eye.
- Kp 7 Strong storm (G3) Most of the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Czechia; red glow in photos from France and the northern Alps.
- Kp 8 Severe storm (G4) Central Europe to the eye; red sky in photos from northern Italy, Spain, the Balkans and Turkey's Black Sea coast.
- Kp 9 Extreme storm (G5) Seen across Europe and the US; in photos as far south as the Mediterranean, Turkey and North Africa (May 2024).
The town pages in this region also cover 1,432 villages and districts nearby.
Smaller places
- AhtanumKp 5.3
- Airway HeightsKp 4.3
- AldertonKp 5
- Alderwood ManorKp 4.7
- AlgonaKp 5
- AllynKp 5
- AmboyKp 5.7
- Ames LakeKp 4.7
- Arlington HeightsKp 4.3
- AsotinKp 5
- Ault FieldKp 4.3
- Bangor Trident BaseKp 4.7
- BarbertonKp 5.7
- Basin CityKp 5
- BelfairKp 5
- Benton CityKp 5.3
- BethelKp 5
- Big LakeKp 4.3
- Birch BayKp 4.3
- Black DiamondKp 5
- BlaineKp 4.3
- Bothell EastKp 4.7
- Boulevard ParkKp 5
- BrewsterKp 4.3
- BridgeportKp 4.3
- BrierKp 4.7
- Browns PointKp 5
- Brush PrairieKp 5.7
- BryantKp 4.3
- BuckleyKp 5
- Bunk FossKp 4.7
- BurbankKp 5.3
- BurleyKp 5
- BurlingtonKp 4.7
- CanterwoodKp 5
- CarnationKp 4.7
- CarsonKp 5.7
- Cascade ValleyKp 4.7
- CashmereKp 5.7
- Castle RockKp 5.7
- CathcartKp 4.7
- Central ParkKp 5.7
- ChehalisKp 6
- ChelanKp 4.7
- ChewelahKp 4
- ChicoKp 5
- ClarkstonKp 5
- Clarkston Heights-VinelandKp 5
- Cle ElumKp 5.3
- Clear LakeKp 4.3
- ClearviewKp 4.7
- Clyde HillKp 4.7
- ColfaxKp 5
- College PlaceKp 5.3
- ColvilleKp 4.3
- ConnellKp 5
- CosmopolisKp 5.3
- Coulee DamKp 4.3
- Country HomesKp 4.3
- CoupevilleKp 4.7
- CrockerKp 5
- DallesportKp 5.7
- DarringtonKp 4.3
- DavenportKp 4.3
- DaytonKp 5
- Deer ParkKp 4.3
- Desert AireKp 5
- Dollars CornerKp 5.7
- DuPontKp 5
- DuvallKp 4.7
- East Port OrchardKp 5
- East Wenatchee BenchKp 4.7
- EastgateKp 5
- EatonvilleKp 5.3
- EdgewoodKp 5
- Electric CityKp 4.3
- ElmaKp 5.3
- EnetaiKp 5.3
- EntiatKp 4.7
- EphrataKp 4.7
- Erlands Point-Kitsap LakeKp 5
- EsperanceKp 4.7
- EversonKp 4.3
- Fairchild Air Force BaseKp 4.3
- FairwoodKp 4.3
- Fall CityKp 4.7
- FelidaKp 5.7
- Fern PrairieKp 6
- FifeKp 5
- Fife HeightsKp 5
- FinleyKp 5.3
- FircrestKp 5
- Fobes HillKp 4.7
- Fords PrairieKp 5.3
- ForksKp 5
- Fox IslandKp 5
- FreelandKp 4.7
- Friday HarborKp 4.3
- GarrettKp 5.3
- GenevaKp 4.3
- Gig HarborKp 5
- GleedKp 5
- Gold BarKp 5
- GoldendaleKp 5.7
- Grand CouleeKp 4.3
- Grand MoundKp 5.3
- GrangerKp 5.3
- Granite FallsKp 4.7
- Granite FallsKp 4.3
- HansvilleKp 4.7
- HighlandKp 5.3
- HobartKp 5
- HockinsonKp 5.7
- HomeKp 5
- HoquiamKp 5.3
- IndianolaKp 4.7
- KalamaKp 6
- Kettle FallsKp 5.3
- Key CenterKp 5
- KingstonKp 5
- KittitasKp 5
- La CenterKp 5.7
- Lake Marcel-StillwaterKp 4.7
- Lake ShoreKp 5.7
- Lake StickneyKp 4.7
- LangleyKp 4.7
- Larch WayKp 4.7
- LeavenworthKp 4.7
- LewisvilleKp 5.7
- Liberty LakeKp 4.3
- LochsloyKp 4.7
- LofallKp 4.7
- Long BeachKp 5.7
- LongbranchKp 5
- Longview HeightsKp 5.7
- MabtonKp 5.3
- MachiasKp 4.7
- ManchesterKp 5
- MansonKp 4.3
- Maple Heights-Lake DesireKp 5
- MaplewoodKp 5
- MariettaKp 4.3
- Marietta-AlderwoodKp 4.3
- MattawaKp 5
- McChord FieldKp 5
- McClearyKp 5.3
- McMillinKp 5
- MeadKp 4.3
- Meadow GladeKp 5.7
- MeadowdaleKp 4.7
- Medical LakeKp 4.3
- MedinaKp 4.7
- MidlandKp 5
- Mill PlainKp 6
- MillwoodKp 4.3
- MiltonKp 5
- MinnehahaKp 6
- MirrormontKp 5.3
- Monroe NorthKp 4.7
- MontesanoKp 5.3
- MortonKp 5.3
- Moses Lake NorthKp 4.7
- Mount VistaKp 5.7
- NapavineKp 5.3
- Navy Yard CityKp 5
- NewportKp 5
- NewportKp 4
- NooksackKp 4.3
- Normandy ParkKp 5
- North BendKp 5
- North Fort LewisKp 5
- North PuyallupKp 5.3
- North YelmKp 5.3
- Ocean ParkKp 5.7
- Ocean ShoresKp 5.3
- OkanoganKp 4.3
- OmakKp 4
- OrovilleKp 4
- OrtingKp 5
- OthelloKp 5
- Otis Orchards-East FarmsKp 4.3
- PacificKp 5
- PalouseKp 4.7
- ParkwoodKp 5
- Peaceful ValleyKp 4
- Picnic PointKp 5.3
- Point RobertsKp 4.3
- PomeroyKp 5
- Port Angeles EastKp 4.7
- Port Hadlock-IrondaleKp 4.7
- Port LudlowKp 4.7
- Port TownsendKp 4.7
- Prairie HeightsKp 5
- ProsserKp 5.3
- PurdyKp 5
- QuincyKp 4.7
- RainierKp 5.3
- RavensdaleKp 5
- RaymondKp 5.3
- RepublicKp 4
- RidgefieldKp 5.7
- RitzvilleKp 4.7
- RiverbendKp 5.7
- RivertonKp 5
- RochesterKp 5.3
- Rocky PointKp 5
- RosedaleKp 5
- Royal CityKp 5
- SammamishKp 4.7
- SeabeckKp 5
- SelahKp 5
- SequimKp 4.7
- SheltonKp 5.3
- Sisco HeightsKp 4.7
- Smokey PointKp 4.7
- SnohomishKp 4.7
- Soap LakeKp 4.7
- South BendKp 5.3
- South WenatcheeKp 4.7
- SouthworthKp 5
- StanwoodKp 4.7
- SteilacoomKp 5
- StevensonKp 5.7
- Sudden ValleyKp 4.3
- SultanKp 4.7
- SumasKp 4
- SummitKp 5
- Summit ViewKp 5
- SumnerKp 5
- SunnyslopeKp 4.7
- SuquamishKp 4.7
- TanglewildeKp 5
- Tanglewilde-Thompson PlaceKp 5
- TannerKp 5
- TeninoKp 5.3
- Terrace HeightsKp 5.3
- Three LakesKp 4.7
- TietonKp 5
- TonasketKp 4
- ToppenishKp 5.3
- Town and CountryKp 4.3
- TracytonKp 5
- TulalipKp 4.7
- Tulalip BayKp 4.7
- Union GapKp 5.3
- VenersborgKp 5.7
- WaitsburgKp 5
- Walla Walla EastKp 5.3
- WallerKp 5
- Walnut GroveKp 5.7
- WapatoKp 5.3
- WardenKp 5
- Warm BeachKp 4.7
- WatervilleKp 4.7
- WaunaKp 5
- West Clarkston-HighlandKp 5
- West LongviewKp 5.7
- West PascoKp 5.3
- West Side HighwayKp 5.7
- West WenatcheeKp 4.7
- WestportKp 5.3
- White SalmonKp 5.7
- Wilderness RimKp 5
- WinlockKp 5.3
- WollochetKp 5
- WoodlandKp 5.7
- Woods CreekKp 4.7
- WoodwayKp 4.7
- YacoltKp 5.7
- Yarrow PointKp 4.7
- YelmKp 5.3
- ZillahKp 5.3