The Geminid meteor shower will peak this weekend. How to see it in Northern California
HOUR, METEOROLOGIST DIRK VERDOORN HAS MORE ON IF WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY SEE THEM HERE. DIRK. IF YOU LIVE IN THE VALLEY, YOUR SKY IS NOT GOING TO LOOK LIKE THIS. IT’S NOT GOING TO BE FILLED WITH STARS. YOU’RE GOING TO BE FILLED WITH A LOW CLOUD COVER. SO IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE GEMINID METEOR SHOWER, YOU’RE GOING TO WANT TO GET IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. YOU WANT TO GET UP ABOVE 1500 TO 2000FT, AND THAT WOULD BE MUCH BETTER. AND IT’S DARKER ANYWAY, SO THAT’S A BETTER PLACE TO VIEW IT. BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE AGAIN TOMORROW NIGHT INTO SUNDAY MORNING IS WHEN IT PEAKS THE GEMINID METEOR SHOWER. YOU WANT TO BE LOOKING OFF TOWARDS THE EAST AND THE GEMINID, THE RADIANT. THAT’S GENERALLY WHERE THESE METEORS ARE GOING TO BE COMING FROM, SO THEY CAN COME IN ANY DIRECTION. BUT KIND OF SHOOTING FROM THE EAST. AND IF YOU GO AFTER 9:00, YOU WILL SEE THE RADIANT, IT’S UP THERE. IT’S NOT GOING TO BE THE BEST VIEWING. THE BEST VIEWING ACTUALLY IS GOING TO BE LATE IN THE NIGHT AND ACTUALLY INTO SUNDAY MORNING BETWEEN 1 AND 3:00 IN THE MORNING. YOUR BEST VIEWING, BUT YOU CAN STILL SEE SOME AFTER 9:00. SO IF YOU WANT TO GO TO GO OUT THERE, TAKE A DRIVE, GET IT TO A HIGHER ELEVATION, SIT BACK AND MAKE SURE YOU BUNDLE UP BECAUSE IT’S GOING TO BE CHILLY, BUT YOU’RE LOOKING AT BETWEEN. THERE’S THE GEMINI CONSTELLATION THERE. AND ALSO YOU HAVE JUPITER THAT’S GOING TO BE OUT THERE. THAT’S ANOTHER THING THAT YOU CAN LOOK FOR. LOOK OFF TO THE EAST AND JUPITER IS GOING TO BE COMING UP. OF COURSE, THAT’S GOING TO CONTINUE TO RISE AS WE GO THROUGH THE NIGHT. BUT THE FIND A DARK LOCATION AND I’VE SEEN WHERE AGAIN, IF UNDER IDEAL CIRCUMSTANCES, YOU COULD SEE UP TO 150 PER HOUR.
The Geminid meteor shower will peak this weekend. How to see it in Northern California
Updated: 6:06 PM PST Dec 12, 2025
The Geminid meteor shower will be peaking this weekend. It is considered one of the more active meteor showers, depending on viewing conditions.The American Meteor Society notes that the Geminids are often bright and intensely colored. Under ideal circumstances, you may be able to view 60 to 150 meteors per hour.Unfortunately, if you live in the California Central Valley, you will have to drive to a higher elevation as the Valley will be socked in with fog all night. If you find a clear spot, it should be good viewing this year as the moon is just a crescent, so look to the east after 9 p.m. REAL-TIME TRAFFIC MAPClick here to see our interactive traffic map.TRACK INTERACTIVE, DOPPLER RADARClick here to see our interactive radar.DOWNLOAD OUR APP FOR THE LATESTHere is where you can download our app.Follow our KCRA weather team on social mediaMeteorologist Tamara Berg on Facebook and X.Meteorologist Dirk Verdoorn on FacebookMeteorologist/Climate Reporter Heather Waldman on Facebook and X.Meteorologist Kelly Curran on X.Meteorologist Ophelia Young on Facebook and X.Watch our forecasts on TV or onlineHere’s where to find our latest video forecast. You can also watch a livestream of our latest newscast here. The banner on our website turns red when we’re live.We’re also streaming on the Very Local app for Roku, Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV.
The Geminid meteor shower will be peaking this weekend. It is considered one of the more active meteor showers, depending on viewing conditions.
The American Meteor Society notes that the Geminids are often bright and intensely colored. Under ideal circumstances, you may be able to view 60 to 150 meteors per hour.
Unfortunately, if you live in the California Central Valley, you will have to drive to a higher elevation as the Valley will be socked in with fog all night.
If you find a clear spot, it should be good viewing this year as the moon is just a crescent, so look to the east after 9 p.m.
REAL-TIME TRAFFIC MAP
Click here to see our interactive traffic map.
TRACK INTERACTIVE, DOPPLER RADAR
Click here to see our interactive radar.
DOWNLOAD OUR APP FOR THE LATEST
Here is where you can download our app.
Follow our KCRA weather team on social media
Meteorologist Tamara Berg on Facebook and X.Meteorologist Dirk Verdoorn on FacebookMeteorologist/Climate Reporter Heather Waldman on Facebook and X.Meteorologist Kelly Curran on X.Meteorologist Ophelia Young on Facebook and X.
Watch our forecasts on TV or online
Here’s where to find our latest video forecast. You can also watch a livestream of our latest newscast here. The banner on our website turns red when we’re live.
We’re also streaming on the Very Local app for Roku, Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV.