The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center forecasts that parts of Washington state may see the northern lights tonight, Aug. 18. The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, is a natural light display caused by electrically charged particles from space colliding with Earth’s atmosphere.
According to NOAA, the solar wind stream will buffet Earth’s magnetic field tonight, raising the potential for minor geomagnetic storm conditions. This could lead to visible northern lights in 15 US states overnight from Aug. 18-19.
For optimal viewing conditions, stargazers should look for clear skies in Eastern Washington, with sky cover percentages ranging from 8% to 31%. In contrast, places like Seattle and Olympia are predicted to have opaque clouds covering from 32% to 53% of the sky at 11 p.m.
The best time to see the northern lights is typically within an hour or two of midnight, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. PT. To enhance the experience, consider finding a dark location away from city lights and capturing long exposures with a camera.
Source: https://eu.kitsapsun.com/story/news/local/washington/2025/08/18/northern-lights-visible-washington-state-tonight-august-18-noaa-aurora-forecast/85716493007