Northern Lights Tonight in Arizona
Aurora in Arizona is rare and appears only during severe geomagnetic storms, from about Kp 6.9 on the Colorado Plateau to Kp 8.0 in the south. Tonight's peak Kp is 3.7 (active): aurora is unlikely anywhere in Arizona.
Rare here: only severe storms. Since 2015, Kp reached Page's threshold of 6.9 on a dark night at least 12 times: July 3, 2026; March 20, 2026; January 20, 2026; January 19, 2026; November 12, 2025; November 11, 2025.
Best chance in Arizona tonight
UnlikelyPage: unlikely, peak Kp 3.7 against Kp 6.9 needed, clouds 46%.
Kp requirements by location
1Page
| On the horizon | Kp 6.9 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 7.9 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 8.9 |
Kp now 2.0: 4.9 short of the horizon
2Flagstaff
| On the horizon | Kp 7.3 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 8.3 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 9.0 |
Kp now 2.0: 5.3 short of the horizon
3Phoenix
| On the horizon | Kp 7.8 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 8.8 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 9.0 |
Kp now 2.0: 5.8 short of the horizon
4Tucson
| On the horizon | Kp 8.0 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 9.0 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 9.0 |
Kp now 2.0: 6.0 short of the horizon
Best dark sky viewing locations
Grand Canyon National Park (South Rim)
International Dark Sky Park (DarkSky International)
A high rim with a broad view across the canyon toward the north, where the air is dry and clear most nights.
Paved AZ-64 to the South Rim; open all year.
Wupatki National Monument
International Dark Sky Park (DarkSky International)
High desert pueblo ruins north of Flagstaff with flat, open land and little light. Part of the Flagstaff-area monuments with this designation.
Paved loop road from US-89 north of Flagstaff.
Oracle State Park
International Dark Sky Park (DarkSky International)
A foothill park north of Tucson in the Santa Catalina Mountains, with dark skies for southern Arizona. Mountains limit the south.
Paved road from Oracle; the park has set hours.
Aurora status by city
Page
Flagstaff
Phoenix
Tucson
What time to look tonight in Arizona
Best window tonight: 10 PM – 12 AM MST at Page. Look north, low on the horizon; the hours around local midnight are usually the most active.
Best viewing season in Arizona
Aurora in Arizona is rare. It is visible only during severe geomagnetic storms, and even then it is faint. On such a night you will see a low red glow on the northern horizon that is easy to miss by eye, while a phone camera on night mode records it more clearly. Expect a glow, not moving curtains.
Arizona's dry air and high elevation are an advantage: the sky is clear on most nights in the Colorado Plateau, and Flagstaff, as an official dark-sky city, limits its own light. Winter nights are longest; the summer monsoon, July to September, brings cloud. Phoenix and Tucson glow strongly, so drive north or into the mountains.
Peak aurora months
At Page, Kp most often reaches the threshold on dark nights in May, June and September.
GFZ Potsdam Kp since 2015; clouds not counted.
Arizona northern lights FAQ
Can you see the northern lights in Arizona?
Can I see the northern lights in Arizona tonight?
Where are the darkest skies in Arizona?
What Kp do I need to see the northern lights in Arizona?
Free app for iPhone and Android
Track aurora across Arizona
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.
Explore more
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.