Michigan · ET
Can You See the Northern Lights in Michigan Tonight?
NO (Traverse City area). Not worth a special trip tonight. Aurora activity is not expected to reach Michigan tonight.
NO
Not worth a special trip tonight.
Tonight’s hours (ET)
| Time | Reading | Sky |
|---|---|---|
| 1:45 AM–2:15 AM ET | NO | Clear |
| 2:15 AM–2:45 AM ET | NO | Clear |
| 2:45 AM–3:15 AM ET | NO | Clear |
| 3:15 AM–3:45 AM ET | NO | Clear |
| 3:45 AM–4:15 AM ET | NO | Clear |
Rest of the night
| 4:15 AM–4:45 AM ET | NO | Clear |
|---|---|---|
| 4:45 AM–5:15 AM ET | NO | Clear |
| 5:15 AM–5:45 AM ET | NO | Clear |
| 5:45 AM–6:15 AM ET | not dark yet | — |
| 6:15 AM–6:45 AM ET | not dark yet | — |
| 6:45 AM–7:15 AM ET | not dark yet | — |
Why this verdict
- Aurora reach
- Aurora activity is not expected to reach Michigan tonight.
- Clouds
- Clear
- Darkness
- —
- Moon
- —
- City glow
- Detroit–Ann Arbor–Toledo is a major light complex. Traverse City and the lakeshores are better. The Upper Peninsula (Marquette, Keweenaw, the Lake Superior shore) is the dark, high-latitude part of the state.
- Data live
- Live reading, not a full local guide.
What to do
- Leave Detroit. For a serious attempt, go north: at least to the Traverse City / Mackinac latitude, and to the Upper Peninsula when the storm is only moderate.
- Face north.
- Give your eyes 30–60 minutes in the dark.
- A phone camera may pick up a faint display before your eyes do.
Other points in Michigan
- MarquetteMAYBE
- DetroitNO
In this state
Michigan is three different aurora places: Detroit (event-only), northern Lower Peninsula (sub-oval, sometimes), Upper Peninsula (the real viewing region). A GO in the UP is often still NO in Detroit.
Nearby
Local FAQ
Is this the Northern Michigan page?
There is no separate Northern Michigan URL. Queries like “aurora borealis northern Michigan forecast” are answered here, with the UP and northern Lower Peninsula called out explicitly.
Can you see the northern lights from Detroit?
Only in a strong storm, and not from the city core. Detroit is the worst place in the state to try.
Upper Peninsula or Traverse City?
The UP is closer to the oval and darker. Traverse City is the compromise if you cannot cross the bridge. On a weak night, the UP is the difference between maybe and no.
Does lake-effect ruin it?
Often. A good Kp with a Superior snow band is still a no. Clouds are the usual reason a Michigan night fails after the oval has reached the state.