On the left hand side of the website is a choice of 5 different maps to display the prediction of the nighttime aurora. Click on the map that best shows your location.

After you have selected your map, visit the Interpreting the Forecast page. You will see your map displayed for each of the 10 forecast levels (0 to 9). Find the levels where your location is inside the green line. For example, on the North America map, Chicago requires a 3 to see the aurora on the northern horizon and at least a 5 to see it overhead.

Check the main forecast for the day of interest. If your location is within the green line on the equatorward side of the green and white band around the pole, you should plan on aurora watching that night.

To see if the aurora will be visible from your location within the next hour, look at the "short term forecast" on the right hand side of the display. This is a continually updated forecast, based on an actual satellite measurement, so if it shows an index 5 and you are in Seattle, Chicago, New York City, Halifax or anywhere under the green and white band, then there is aurora overhead. If the sun is down, you should go outside, away from city lights with a view of the poleward horizon, and look for it. It will be most active between 10 pm and 2 am.

To plan a trip to the auroral zone, use the "Long-term (28-day) Forecast" (at right) and the "Solar Wind/Geomagnetic Activity Plot" (to the left).