How and When You Might Catch Northern Lights Tonight in Oregon, Washington, the Coast

Published 03/22/25 at 7:25 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Portland, Oregon) – A decent chance for catching the northern lights in the Pacific Northwest is one way to kick off spring break. Indeed, that is just what's happening tonight in Oregon and Washington – except, of course, for the weather. (Above: aurora borealis in Seaside this year - Seaside Aquarium)

A sizable coronal mass ejection (CME) rocketed its way out of the sun on March 17 and then again on March 21, and the remnants are even now showering the Earth with charged particles, creating some northern lights possibilities already.

Now, there's a geomagnetic storm watch in effect, with a category G3 predicted. The alert is now until Tuesday, with tonight (Saturday) likely being the best time to catch it along the Oregon coast, Washington coast or inland areas.

Also see Green Nightglow Above Us All the Time, You Just Didn't Know: Washington / Oregon Coast Science

The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) in Colorado issued the watch, with tonight expected to hit the Kp index of 6 or 7. Timing is likely just after sunset to 2 a.m., with the strongest being predicted about 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., according to the SWPC as of this writing.

This is considered a “strong” storm, but nothing like what we saw in May or at those really spectacular moments in summer and fall of 2024. However, our mid latitudes may well get to see it (but northern Washington is a much safer bet).

“Aurora may be seen as low as Pennsylvania to Iowa to Oregon,” the SWPC said.

Port Orford - courtesy DiscoverPortOrford.com

This event will be faint for areas like Seaside, Portland, Coos Bay, Bend, Newport or Salem: the graphic from the SWPC shows the outer edge just into northern Oregon. This is mostly good news for photographers but not those looking with just their eyes.

- Washington Coast Weather - Oregon Coast Weather  - Inland Oregon Weather

Areas along the Washington coast or Oregon coast would be perfect because of the lack of light interference – however, Mother Nature is going to get in the way. Weather forecasts do not look good along the coastlines and even in northern Washington for this weekend.

Oregon Coast Range - Oregon Coast Beach Connection

However, it's advisable to go outside and look, in case of any breaks.

It's possible that the region may see an even brighter aurora borealis in the midweek, and clouds will be breaking in areas like Portland by Tuesday and Wednesday night. However, those chances are still as yet unverified.

What is the cause of the aurora borealis? The explanation of the northern lights?

First, they are caused by sunspots, which sometimes fire off plasma material from the Sun, according to NASA.

“Sunspots are cooler regions on the Sun caused by a concentration of magnetic field lines,” NASA said. “Sunspots are the visible component of active regions, areas of intense and complex magnetic fields on the Sun that are the source of solar eruptions.”

Those CMEs are what causes “space weather.” They hit the magnetic field generated by geologic forces inside the planet. It's like a shield of magnetism, called the magnetosphere. It lights up when material from the sun smacks into it.

Oregon Coast Hotels for this event - South Coast Hotels - Oregon Coast Vacation Rentals - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours

MORE PHOTOS BELOW

More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging.....

More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining.....

Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast.

LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles

Back to Oregon Coast

Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection
All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright © Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted