Northern Lights Tonight in Los Angeles, California
Tonight in Los Angeles: aurora is unlikely. Kp peaks at 3.7, below the local Kp 7.9 threshold; clouds 46%.
Visibility now
UnlikelyKp 2.0 now (quiet); this spot needs Kp 7.9+.
Kp: NOAA SWPC · Oval: NOAA OVATION · Clouds: Open-Meteo · Updated every 15 minutes.
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Los Angeles aurora forecast
| PST | Kp | Chance | Status | Clouds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 PM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 1% |
| 7 PM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 2% |
| 8 PM | 3.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 27% |
| 9 PM | 2.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 26% |
| 10 PM | 2.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 21% |
| 11 PM | 2.7 | 10 of 100 | Unlikely | 8% |
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 Los Angeles's Kp 7.9; storms can still arrive at short notice.
~1 aurora nights per year
Dark nights when Kp reached 7.9, average of the last three years (GFZ Potsdam). Clouds not counted.
Average nights per month since 2015. Best months to visit: Mar, Apr, May, Aug.
Tonight's best window
If activity picks up, watch11 PM – 1 AM PST, look north, low on the horizon.
Fully dark from 6:18 PM to 4:55 AM PST.
Why this forecast?
Aurora Borealis Viewing in Los Angeles
Seeing the aurora from Los Angeles takes an extreme storm. The threshold here is Kp 7.9, one of the hardest on this site, and it is reached only a few times in a solar cycle. When it does happen, it appears as a dull red glow low in the northern sky, and phone cameras often pick it up first.
The basin is lit end to end. Nothing in the city, including Griffith Park and the hills above Hollywood, gives a dark northern view. Even the nearby San Gabriel Mountains have the Los Angeles glow behind you and the San Fernando Valley glow ahead.
If a storm like that is in the forecast, drive out to the high desert or the mountains north of the city. The Mojave beyond the Angeles National Forest has long, clear horizons and little light, and the elevated parking areas on Mount Pinos give you a view over the Cuyama and Antelope valleys. Joshua Tree is farther east, though its dark sky gives you a better chance than anywhere in the basin. On an ordinary night, do not make the drive for aurora.
For the whole picture, check the northern lights tonight overview or the live aurora map.
Dark-sky spots near Los Angeles
Mount Pinos (Chula Vista Campground)
A 8,800-foot peak in Los Padres National Forest with low light pollution and dry air. Observers use the parking area near Chula Vista Campground.
Joshua Tree National Park
International Dark Sky Park (DarkSky International)
High desert with a Dark Sky Park designation since 2017. Open views north across the Mojave from rocky overlooks. A long drive from the city.
Other cities in the US
Boise
Portland
Denver
Spokane
Seattle
Milwaukee
Plan your trip
Northern Lights in Los Angeles: Quick Guide
How often can you see the northern lights in Los Angeles?
What Kp do I need to see the northern lights in Los Angeles?
Can I see the northern lights tonight in Los Angeles?
Where should I look for the northern lights in Los Angeles?
What time is best tonight in Los Angeles?
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.