Northern Lights Tonight in Colorado
Colorado needs a strong storm, around Kp 5.9 in the north to Kp 6.3 in the south, but its altitude, dry air and dark mountains make a good aurora worth the wait. Tonight's peak Kp is 3.7 (active): aurora is unlikely anywhere in Colorado.
Best chance in Colorado tonight
UnlikelyFort Collins: unlikely, peak Kp 3.7 against Kp 5.9 needed, clouds 68%.
Kp requirements by location
1Fort Collins
| On the horizon | Kp 5.9 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 6.9 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 7.9 |
Kp now 2.0: 3.9 short of the horizon
2Steamboat Springs
| On the horizon | Kp 6.0 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 7.0 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 8.0 |
Kp now 2.0: 4.0 short of the horizon
| On the horizon | Kp 6.1 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 7.1 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 8.1 |
Kp now 2.0: 4.1 short of the horizon
4Grand Junction
| On the horizon | Kp 6.3 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 7.3 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 8.3 |
Kp now 2.0: 4.3 short of the horizon
5Colorado Springs
| On the horizon | Kp 6.3 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 7.3 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 8.3 |
Kp now 2.0: 4.3 short of the horizon
Best dark sky viewing locations
Westcliffe and Silver Cliff
International Dark Sky Community (DarkSky International)
A ranching valley at roughly 8,000 feet below the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The north end of the valley is open and dark.
Paved CO-69 from Pueblo or Walsenburg; open public land nearby.
Great Sand Dunes National Park
International Dark Sky Park (DarkSky International)
A high valley with the dunes against the mountains. You get a very dark sky at elevation, with a clear view north over the San Luis Valley.
Paved CO-150 from US-160; the park is open at night.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison (South Rim)
International Dark Sky Park (DarkSky International)
Rim overlooks over a deep canyon on the western slope, a dark site with wide views toward the north.
Paved South Rim Road from US-50 near Montrose.
Aurora status by city
Fort Collins
Steamboat Springs
Denver
Grand Junction
Colorado Springs
What time to look tonight in Colorado
Best window tonight: 1 AM – 3 AM MST at Fort Collins. Look north, low on the horizon; the hours around local midnight are usually the most active.
Best viewing season in Colorado
Colorado's best aurora chances come in the long nights of late autumn to early spring, and the state's dry, high-elevation air gives some of the clearest skies in the lower 48. Storms strong enough to reach this far south are uncommon, so check the forecast and be ready to move.
The Front Range cities, led by Denver, glow brightly to the north. Mountains also block low horizons, so choose high basins, passes, or open plains with a clear view toward the north. Mountain weather changes fast and winter nights can be bitterly cold. Snowstorms sweep through the high country from November to April.
Peak aurora months
At Fort Collins, Kp most often reaches the threshold on dark nights in May and September.
GFZ Potsdam Kp since 2015; clouds not counted.
Colorado northern lights FAQ
Can you see the northern lights in Colorado?
Can I see the northern lights in Colorado tonight?
Where are the darkest skies in Colorado?
What Kp do I need to see the northern lights in Colorado?
Free app for iPhone and Android
Track aurora across Colorado
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.