Northern Lights in Arkansas Tonight
Live aurora forecasts for 3 Arkansas locations, the Kp threshold each one needs, and the state's best dark-sky viewing spots.
Reading the solar wind…
Live forecast by city
| City | Eye tonight | Camera tonight | Eye needs | Camera needs | Overhead at | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | … | … | Kp 9.5+ | Kp 8+ | Kp 9.5+ | Live forecast → |
| Fort Smith | … | … | Kp 9.5+ | Kp 8.5+ | Kp 9.5+ | Live forecast → |
| Little Rock | … | … | Kp 9.5+ | Kp 8.5+ | Kp 9.5+ | Live forecast → |
Eye/camera tonight = chance of seeing (or photographing) aurora at some point tonight, from the Kp forecast, cloud forecast, and moon. Camera threshold = the Kp at which a phone night-mode shot picks up aurora your eyes can't see yet.
Free Arkansas sky alerts, no app required
One email when aurora conditions align at your location, plus meteor reminder and go-time emails for peaks worth watching. Web alerts cover one US location per email.
Northern lights in Arkansas: FAQ
›Can you see the northern lights in Arkansas?
Yes, with the right geomagnetic activity. The best-placed location we track in Arkansas is Fayetteville (magnetic latitude 44.6°), which needs roughly Kp 9.5 for aurora on the northern horizon. Displays that strong happen only during rare extreme (G5) superstorms. Every city's live forecast is linked below.
›When is the best time to see the northern lights in Arkansas?
September through April, roughly 10 PM to 2 AM local time. Geomagnetic activity statistically peaks around the equinoxes (September/October and March/April), and long dark nights beat summer twilight. We're near the maximum of Solar Cycle 25, so 2026–2027 is prime time.
›Where are the best places to watch aurora in Arkansas?
Anywhere with minimal light pollution and an unobstructed northern horizon: rural roads, lakeshores, and ridgetops on the northern side of town all work.
›What Kp index do I need in Arkansas?
It varies across the state: Fayetteville needs about Kp 9.5, while Little Rock needs about Kp 9.5. Phone cameras capture aurora roughly one Kp level earlier than eyes at every location.