Space Weather Live
REAL-TIME KP INDEX · SOLAR WIND · GEOMAGNETIC STORM ALERTS · DATA: NOAA SWPC
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Planetary K-Index
Aurora activity level
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Kp Index measures how disturbed Earth's magnetic field is, on a scale of 0–9. The higher the number, the more widespread the aurora. Kp 5+ = a geomagnetic storm. Full explainer →
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Solar Wind · DSCOVR / ACE
Particle stream from the Sun
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The Sun constantly blows charged particles toward Earth. Speed and density measure how strong that stream is. Bz is the magnetic direction — southward (negative) Bz unlocks aurora. Learn more →
Speed
Wind velocity
— km/s
Density
Particle count
— p/cm³
Bz (GSM)
Magnetic direction ↓south = good
— nT
Bt Total
Field strength
— nT
Temperature
Plasma temp
— ×10⁵K
Bz Status
Aurora coupling
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Kp Index · 3-Day Observed + 24h Forecast
Aurora activity history & outlook
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Each bar shows the Kp value for a 3-hour window. Solid bars = measured data. Outlined bars = NOAA forecast. The red dashed line is Kp 5 — the threshold for a G1 geomagnetic storm.
▬▬ Observed
- - Forecast
— G1 (Kp 5)
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+24h forecast →
NOAA Space Weather Scales · Current
Active alerts by type
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NOAA rates three types of space weather. G = geomagnetic storms (aurora). R = radio blackouts (solar flares). S = radiation storms (solar protons). All go from 1 (minor) to 5 (extreme). Full guide →
Radio Blackout
R0
HF radio disruption
Radiation Storm
S0
Satellite / polar risk
Geomagnetic
G0
Storm / aurora driver
Substorm Activity Conditions
Short-burst aurora likelihood
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Substorms are sudden, localized bursts of aurora — bright curtains that appear for 20–60 minutes, even when the Kp is only moderate. This heuristic indicator estimates conditions that favor them. Learn about substorms →
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Heuristic only — not an official NOAA product.
Based on Bz, solar wind speed & density from current readings.
Ground-truth magnetometer data: SuperMAG ↗
Based on Bz, solar wind speed & density from current readings.
Ground-truth magnetometer data: SuperMAG ↗
Alerts, Watches & Warnings · NOAA SWPC · — active
Official space weather notices
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Alerts = happening now. Warnings = expected soon. Watches = possible in coming days. Summaries = briefings. Click any item to read the full NOAA text.
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IMF Components · Bx By Bz (GSM) · loading…
Magnetic field direction over time
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The Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) has three components. Bz is the most critical: when it goes negative (southward), solar energy pours into Earth's magnetosphere driving aurora. Watch for sustained negative Bz. Bz explained →
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Aurora Oval · 30-Min Forecast · NOAA OVATION · Northern Hemisphere
Where aurora is predicted right now
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This map shows Earth from above the North Pole. The bright ring shows where aurora is predicted to be visible. Brighter colors = more intense aurora. The oval expands southward during storms.
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Aurora Intensity
Red / orange — intense aurora
Yellow — moderate activity
Green — low activity
Dark — aurora unlikely
The OVATION model provides a 30–90 minute aurora forecast based on real-time solar wind data. The bright region shows where aurora is predicted to be visible at ground level. Sunlit side shown as lighter area.
Red arrow on image = noon meridian
Full NOAA OVATION forecast →
Red arrow on image = noon meridian
Full NOAA OVATION forecast →
Aurora Visibility by Kp
| Kp 0–2 | Aurora only near magnetic poles — Alaska, Norway, Iceland |
| Kp 3–4 | Northern Canada, Scandinavia, southern Alaska |
| Kp 5 | G1 Storm — northern US border states, northern Europe |
| Kp 6 | G2 Storm — Oregon, Wisconsin, New York, Germany |
| Kp 7 | G3 Storm — California, Pennsylvania, UK |
| Kp 8–9 | G4–G5 Extreme — Aurora visible at mid-latitudes globally |
What Is Space Weather?
Space weather refers to conditions on the Sun and in the solar wind that can affect Earth's magnetic field, satellites, power grids, radio communications, and GPS. Geomagnetic storms — rated G1–G5 — are caused by coronal mass ejections (CMEs) interacting with Earth's magnetosphere. The Kp index measures global geomagnetic activity every 3 hours on a scale of 0–9.
Understanding Solar Wind Bz
The Bz component of the interplanetary magnetic field is the single most important aurora predictor. When Bz turns negative (southward), it connects with Earth's northward magnetic field, allowing solar energy in to drive geomagnetic storms. A sustained Bz of −10 nT or lower significantly increases aurora chances. Data from NOAA SWPC.