Northern Lights Tonight in Denver, Colorado
Tonight in Denver: aurora is unlikely. Kp peaks at 3.7, below the local Kp 6.1 threshold; clouds 21%.
Visibility now
UnlikelyKp 2.0 now (quiet); this spot needs Kp 6.1+.
Kp: NOAA SWPC · Oval: NOAA OVATION · Clouds: Open-Meteo · Updated every 15 minutes.
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Denver aurora forecast
| MST | Kp | Chance | Status | Clouds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 PM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 5% |
| 7 PM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 100% |
| 8 PM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 85% |
| 9 PM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 5% |
| 10 PM | 2.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 5% |
| 11 PM | 2.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 3% |
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 Denver's Kp 6.1; storms can still arrive at short notice.
~9 aurora nights per year
Dark nights when Kp reached 6.1, 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, watch12 AM – 4 AM MST, look north, low on the horizon.
Fully dark from 6:21 PM to 5:06 AM MST.
Why this forecast?
Aurora Borealis Viewing in Denver
In Denver, the aurora is a severe-storm event. The threshold is Kp 6.1, and nights that reach it are rare. When one comes, the light is a faint red glow low in the north, and a phone camera on night mode is often the first thing to show it.
The Front Range corridor is lit from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs, and the north is bright from Boulder and the northern suburbs. Dark sky is a drive away. East of the city, the plains open to a long flat horizon with fewer lights, and the Rockies to the west block the sky behind you. Colorado winters are drier than most, so clear nights are more common than in the Midwest.
Jackson Lake State Park on the eastern plains is an International Dark Sky Park, with a northern view across open farmland. Golden Gate Canyon State Park to the west is a DarkSky Urban Night Sky Place, closer but with mountain terrain in the way. Wait for a strong storm and a clear forecast, and plan to be in place before dark.
For the whole picture, check the northern lights tonight overview or the live aurora map.
Dark-sky spots near Denver
Jackson Lake State Park
International Dark Sky Park (DarkSky International)
A reservoir park on the plains northeast of Denver, designated in 2020, with a wide open sky and a flat northern horizon.
Golden Gate Canyon State Park
Urban Night Sky Place (DarkSky International)
A mountain state park west of Denver, certified for its lighting, with meadows and ridges that give a darker sky than the city.
Other cities in the US
Boise
Spokane
Los Angeles
Milwaukee
Chicago
Portland
Plan your trip
Northern Lights in Denver: Quick Guide
How often can you see the northern lights in Denver?
What Kp do I need to see the northern lights in Denver?
Can I see the northern lights tonight in Denver?
Where should I look for the northern lights in Denver?
What time is best tonight in Denver?
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.