Northern Lights Tonight in Columbus, Ohio
Tonight in Columbus: aurora is unlikely. Kp peaks at 3.7, below the local Kp 5.8 threshold; clouds 17%.
Visibility now
UnlikelyKp 2.0 now (quiet); this spot needs Kp 5.8+.
Kp: NOAA SWPC · Oval: NOAA OVATION · Clouds: Open-Meteo · Updated every 15 minutes.
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Columbus aurora forecast
| EST | Kp | Chance | Status | Clouds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 PM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 4% |
| 7 PM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 0% |
| 8 PM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 0% |
| 9 PM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 1% |
| 10 PM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 81% |
| 11 PM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 51% |
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 Columbus's Kp 5.8; storms can still arrive at short notice.
~13 aurora nights per year
Dark nights when Kp reached 5.8, average of the last three years (GFZ Potsdam). Clouds not counted.
Average nights per month since 2015. Best months to visit: May, Sep.
Tonight's best window
If activity picks up, watch1 AM – 5 AM EST, look north, low on the horizon.
Fully dark from 6:53 PM to 5:38 AM EST.
Why this forecast?
Aurora Borealis Viewing in Columbus
Columbus is a storm-only aurora city. The threshold is Kp 5.8, so you are watching for a strong geomagnetic night rather than a normal clear evening. When it happens, the glow is faint and reddish low in the north, and a phone in night mode often shows it before your eyes do.
The metro area is large, and the glow runs north through Delaware County and up Interstate 71, which is exactly the direction you want to look. Flat central Ohio farmland helps once you are past the suburbs, but there is no dark patch close to town. Winter cloud is another hurdle, as the sky over the state is overcast on many nights.
The best trade-off is to head north toward Lake Erie. Marblehead on the lake shore points straight at open water, so the northern horizon is clear all the way to Canada. For a protected dark sky, Geauga Observatory Park near Cleveland is a longer drive. Pick a night when a storm is forecast and the clouds are breaking, then commit to the trip.
For the whole picture, check the northern lights tonight overview or the live aurora map.
Dark-sky spots near Columbus
Marblehead Lighthouse State Park
A point on the Lake Erie shore with open water to the north. The clearest horizon in range of the city.
Geauga Observatory Park
International Dark Sky Park (DarkSky International)
Ohio’s first dark-sky park, in Montville Township east of Cleveland, with an open field built for night sky viewing. A long drive from Columbus.
Other cities in the US
Cleveland
Detroit
Chicago
Milwaukee
New York
Bangor
Plan your trip
Northern Lights in Columbus: Quick Guide
How often can you see the northern lights in Columbus?
What Kp do I need to see the northern lights in Columbus?
Can I see the northern lights tonight in Columbus?
Where should I look for the northern lights in Columbus?
What time is best tonight in Columbus?
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.