Magnetic storms in Washington
Magnetic storms in Washington, United States. Current Kp index, 3-day storm forecast, list of cities and geomagnetic activity.
Cities in region4/4
An aurora visible over Washington requires Kp ≥ 6 — current activity is below that level.
Numbers for Washington
Aurora forecast over Washington
Cities of Washington — sensitivity table
Minimum Kp shown for a realistic chance of seeing an aurora. The lower the number, the more noticeable storms are in the city.
| City | Population | Geomagnetic latitude | Kp threshold | Sensitivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | 780,995 | 53.1° | ≥ 6 | Mid-latitudes |
| Tri-Cities | 244,036 | 52.2° | ≥ 6 | Mid-latitudes |
| Spokane | 229,447 | 53.8° | ≥ 6 | Mid-latitudes |
| Tacoma | 222,906 | 52.7° | ≥ 6 | Mid-latitudes |
FAQ about magnetic storms in Washington
Are auroras visible in Washington?+
Rarely. The geomagnetic latitude of Washington (≈ 53°) is not high enough for regular auroras. They are possible only during strong storms Kp ≥ 6 (G3–G4), a few times a year.
How do magnetic storms affect residents of Washington?+
At Kp ≥ 5 weather-sensitive people may experience blood pressure swings, headaches, sleep disturbances. Effects are moderate due to low geomagnetic latitude. However, strong G3+ storms can cause noticeable discomfort even here.
What Kp is needed to see an aurora in Washington?+
By our estimate — Kp ≥ 6 (based on the regional mean of 53° geomagnetic latitude). The threshold is lower in the north of the region and higher in the south. For a specific city, open its page and check the «Aurora visibility threshold» section.
Where is the best place to watch auroras in Washington?+
Best conditions are at the northernmost city in our database (Spokane, 47.7° N). The further north, the higher the geomagnetic latitude and the more frequent the auroras. Also important: clear sky, no city light pollution, and observation around local midnight.
What is the nearest magnetic observatory?+
The nearest observatory is Paratunka (Kamchatka), at 5526 km from the centre of Washington. It belongs to the INTERMAGNET network and records the geomagnetic field in real time.
About magnetic storms: Washington
Magnetic storms in Washington (United States) today: planetary Kp = 2.7 (quiet). The database holds 4 cities in the region with live geomagnetic data and forecasts.
Pick a city from the list to see detailed information: local time, geomagnetic latitude, distance to the nearest magnetic observatory, 3-day Kp chart with forecast and aurora visibility chance. All cities in Washington use the same planetary Kp, but the local impact is computed individually per coordinates.
How a magnetic storm may manifest in Washington: at Kp ≥ 5, weather-sensitive people can have headaches, blood-pressure swings, sleep disruption. At Kp ≥ 7, GPS navigation and shortwave radio may glitch. At Kp ≥ 8 — power-grid issues. Data from NOAA SWPC, updated every 10 minutes.
Inside Washington, geomagnetic latitude varies from 52.2° to 53.8°, with a mean of 53.0°. The northernmost city, Spokane, gets aurora visibility opportunities first when Kp climbs; the 1.6° south-to-north spread is enough to put neighbouring cities into very different storm-response groups.
The nearest magnetic observatory tracking conditions over Washington is Paratunka (Kamchatka). Combined with the planetary Kp index from NOAA SWPC, this station gives the closest reference point for how the local magnetic field behaves during storms in this part of United States.