Northern Lights in Colorado Tonight
Live aurora forecasts for 8 Colorado 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Collins | … | … | Kp 7.5+ | Kp 6+ | Kp 9+ | Live forecast → |
| Steamboat Springs | … | … | Kp 8+ | Kp 6.5+ | Kp 9.5+ | Live forecast → |
| Boulder | … | … | Kp 8+ | Kp 6.5+ | Kp 9.5+ | Live forecast → |
| Denver | … | … | Kp 8+ | Kp 6.5+ | Kp 9.5+ | Live forecast → |
| Aurora | … | … | Kp 8+ | Kp 6.5+ | Kp 9.5+ | Live forecast → |
| Grand Junction | … | … | Kp 8.5+ | Kp 7+ | Kp 9.5+ | Live forecast → |
| Colorado Springs | … | … | Kp 8.5+ | Kp 7+ | Kp 9.5+ | Live forecast → |
| Pueblo | … | … | Kp 9+ | Kp 7.5+ | 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.
Best dark-sky viewing spots in Colorado
Cherry Creek / Steamboat area ↗
Bortle 2Yampa Valley dark-sky communities near Steamboat Springs.
Jackson Lake State Park ↗
Bortle 3Colorado's closest Dark Sky Park to the Front Range.
Westcliffe & Silver Cliff ↗
Bortle 2Colorado's first Dark Sky Community, under the Sangre de Cristos.
Free Colorado 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 Colorado: FAQ
›Can you see the northern lights in Colorado?
Yes, with the right geomagnetic activity. The best-placed location we track in Colorado is Fort Collins (magnetic latitude 48.2°), which needs roughly Kp 7.5 for aurora on the northern horizon. Displays that strong happen roughly once or twice a year, during extreme (G4–G5) storms. Every city's live forecast is linked below.
›When is the best time to see the northern lights in Colorado?
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 Colorado?
Colorado's standout dark-sky locations are Cherry Creek / Steamboat area, Jackson Lake State Park, Westcliffe & Silver Cliff. The recipe anywhere: minimal light pollution and an unobstructed view to the north.
›What Kp index do I need in Colorado?
It varies across the state: Fort Collins needs about Kp 7.5, while Pueblo needs about Kp 9. Phone cameras capture aurora roughly one Kp level earlier than eyes at every location.