Billi, it just depends on the strength of the event. The height the Kp is up to (for you above 4 1/2 if the Bz is real low, and above 5 with a middling Bz, and the further into the (-) the -Bz is, then the more likely you are to see one.
Often you can photograph one without being able to see it.
Find a few places with a good southerly aspect without tall landscape features. And avoid light between you and it.
Put your camera on a tripod set at about 1600ISO, and 30~60secs at the widest aperture of a wide angle lens, and give it a go.
Strong moon light can wash out a weaker one, while 1/st and 2nd quarter can give you nice foreground nightscape details.
This page has all the info you need to get started, including the meters
http://www.aurora-service.net/aurora-forecast/ - it updates every minute (so on a smartphone you might get a jitter in the screen every minute)
Hope it helps
Trev