Northern Lights Tonight in California
Aurora in California is rare and shows only in severe geomagnetic storms, from about Kp 6.5 in the far north to Kp 8.2 in the south. Tonight's peak Kp is 3.7 (active): aurora is unlikely anywhere in California.
Rare here: only severe storms. Since 2015, Kp reached Redding's threshold of 6.5 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 California tonight
UnlikelyRedding: unlikely, peak Kp 3.7 against Kp 6.5 needed, clouds 42%.
Kp requirements by location
1Redding
| On the horizon | Kp 6.5 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 7.5 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 8.5 |
Kp now 2.0: 4.5 short of the horizon
2Eureka
| On the horizon | Kp 6.6 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 7.6 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 8.6 |
Kp now 2.0: 4.6 short of the horizon
3Sacramento
| 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
| On the horizon | Kp 7.9 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 8.9 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 9.0 |
Kp now 2.0: 5.9 short of the horizon
5San Diego
| On the horizon | Kp 8.2 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 9.0 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 9.0 |
Kp now 2.0: 6.2 short of the horizon
Best dark sky viewing locations
Death Valley National Park (Furnace Creek)
International Dark Sky Park (DarkSky International)
One of the darkest large parks in the lower 48. Valley walls limit the horizon, so go to open flats and look north.
Paved CA-190 to Furnace Creek; open all year.
Joshua Tree National Park
International Dark Sky Park (DarkSky International)
High desert with sparse lighting inside the park. The Coachella Valley glow sits to the south, which leaves the northern view dark.
Paved park roads from Twentynine Palms or Joshua Tree.
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
International Dark Sky Park (DarkSky International)
The largest state park in California, a desert basin near Borrego Springs. The wide basin leaves the northern horizon open.
Paved county and state roads to Borrego Springs.
Aurora status by city
Redding
Eureka
Sacramento
Los Angeles
San Diego
What time to look tonight in California
Best window tonight: 10 PM – 12 AM PST at Redding. Look north, low on the horizon; the hours around local midnight are usually the most active.
Best viewing season in California
Aurora in California is rare. It appears only during severe geomagnetic storms, and even then it is faint. On such a night you will usually see a low red or pink glow on the northern horizon that your eye reads as a smudge, while a phone camera on night mode shows more color. Do not expect moving curtains.
Winter has the longest nights, but Pacific storms bring cloud to the coast and north. The Sierra, desert and inland valleys are drier and clearer. Look from high or open ground north of town, away from the Los Angeles, Bay Area and San Diego light domes.
Peak aurora months
At Redding, Kp most often reaches the threshold on dark nights in September.
GFZ Potsdam Kp since 2015; clouds not counted.
California northern lights FAQ
Can you see the northern lights in California?
Can I see the northern lights in California tonight?
Where are the darkest skies in California?
What Kp do I need to see the northern lights in California?
Free app for iPhone and Android
Track aurora across California
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.