Northern Lights Tonight in Boise, Idaho
Tonight in Boise: aurora is unlikely. Kp peaks at 3.7, below the local Kp 5.6 threshold; clouds 36%.
Visibility now
UnlikelyKp 2.0 now (quiet); this spot needs Kp 5.6+.
Kp: NOAA SWPC · Oval: NOAA OVATION · Clouds: Open-Meteo · Updated every 15 minutes.
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Boise aurora forecast
| MST | Kp | Chance | Status | Clouds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 PM | 3.7 | 3 of 100 | Too light | 100% |
| 7 PM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 100% |
| 8 PM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 100% |
| 9 PM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 100% |
| 10 PM | 2.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 100% |
| 11 PM | 2.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 92% |
Chance combines Kp against the local threshold, clouds, darkness and the moon. Hours before dark read “Too light”.
Kp is just one factor. The app adds clouds, moon, darkness, latitude and solar wind for each night.
Which nights are best?
No night in the 27-day NOAA outlook reaches Boise's Kp 5.6; storms can still arrive at short notice.
~13 aurora nights per year
Dark nights when Kp reached 5.6, average of the last three years (GFZ Potsdam). Clouds not counted.
Average nights per month since 2015. Best months to visit: Mar, May, Sep.
Tonight's best window
If activity picks up, watch1 AM – 5 AM MST, look north, low on the horizon.
Fully dark from 7:04 PM to 5:53 AM MST.
Why this forecast?
Aurora Borealis Viewing in Boise
Boise sees aurora on strong storm nights. The threshold is Kp 5.6, which is high but within reach of a big geomagnetic event. The glow arrives as a dim red band above the Boise Foothills, and phone cameras often show more than your eyes.
The city sits in the Treasure Valley, and the foothills to the north work in your favor: they block part of the city glow from the north side of town and give you a rising slope to stand on. Hillside trails such as those at Camel’s Back and Table Rock give a view over the valley toward the dark north, though the downtown glow lies behind you. Winter inversions can trap cloud and fog in the valley, so go up in elevation if it is overcast below.
For a deeper dark, drive out of the valley. Bruneau Dunes State Park to the southeast has a public observatory and a dry high-desert sky, and Craters of the Moon, a few hours east, is an International Dark Sky Park. Head to either on a night when the forecast calls for a storm and clear skies.
For the whole picture, check the northern lights tonight overview or the live aurora map.
Dark-sky spots near Boise
Bruneau Dunes State Park
High desert in Owyhee County with big dunes and a public observatory. A dry sky and a flat, open horizon to the north.
Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve
International Dark Sky Park (DarkSky International)
A lava landscape in south-central Idaho, named a Dark Sky Park in 2017 for its naturally dark skies. A long drive from Boise.
Other cities in the US
Spokane
Portland
Seattle
Denver
Los Angeles
Juneau
Plan your trip
Northern Lights in Boise: Quick Guide
How often can you see the northern lights in Boise?
What Kp do I need to see the northern lights in Boise?
Can I see the northern lights tonight in Boise?
Where should I look for the northern lights in Boise?
What time is best tonight in Boise?
Free app for iPhone and Android
Know when the sky is worth your time
The forecast on this page, watching your location all night and telling you when to step outside.
The hour tonight when Kp, clouds and darkness line up for your spot.
A push alert 30–90 minutes before the aurora reaches your sky, even at 2 AM.
Where the clouds open nearby, so you know which way to drive.
Learn more about the northern lights
How to See the Northern Lights: A Beginner's Guide
Three conditions decide whether you see the northern lights: activity at your latitude, a clear sky and darkness. Here is how to check each one.
Aurora Colors and What They Mean
Green, red, blue, purple and pink aurora explained: which gas makes each color, how high it glows, and why your camera shows more than your eyes.
Northern Lights in Canada: Best Places
The best places to see the northern lights in Canada: Yellowknife, Whitehorse, Churchill, Jasper and the prairies, plus what Ontario and Quebec get.
Northern Lights in Scotland
Where to see the northern lights in Scotland: north coast, islands, Cairngorms and dark sky parks, when the sky is dark enough, and how to beat cloud.
Northern Lights in Norway
Where to see the northern lights in Norway, which months work, why the coast and inland need different plans, and what Oslo gets in a storm.
Aurora Australis Forecast Guide
How to read a forecast for the southern lights: Kp, Bz, the southern oval, darkness, moon and cloud, plus where to look in Tasmania and southern Australia.
Kp index today
Live Kp, the 3-day and 27-day forecast, and what Kp each city needs.
Geomagnetic storm today
G-scale now, the storm outlook and how far south the aurora reaches.