Aurora map
Aurora Oval Map: What It Means Tonight
The aurora oval is the zone where northern lights are most likely. When geomagnetic activity increases, that oval can brighten and expand toward lower latitudes.
What the oval tells you
NOAA aurora maps estimate where aurora is more likely in the near term. A city closer to stronger grid values has a better setup than a city far outside the active oval.
The map is not a promise. Local clouds, moonlight, twilight, and horizon quality still decide whether you can actually see anything.
Why city pages use the nearest grid
Each static city page compares the city location to the nearest NOAA aurora grid point. That keeps the forecast local enough to be useful without pretending the model is street-level precise.
Quick answers
Is the aurora oval the same as the visible aurora?
No. It is a forecast probability zone. Visibility also depends on darkness, weather, and local light pollution.
Why do nearby cities have different scores?
Latitude, cloud cover, and distance to the modeled aurora grid can differ enough to change the practical score.