Northern Lights Tonight in Florida
Aurora in Florida is rare and appears only during severe geomagnetic storms, from about Kp 7.9 in the Panhandle to Kp 9.0 in the far south. Tonight's peak Kp is 3.7 (active): aurora is unlikely anywhere in Florida.
Rare here: only severe storms. Since 2015, Kp reached Tallahassee's threshold of 7.9 on a dark night 7 times: January 19, 2026; November 11, 2025; October 10, 2024; May 10, 2024; April 23, 2023; March 23, 2023.
Best chance in Florida tonight
UnlikelyTallahassee: unlikely, peak Kp 3.7 against Kp 7.9 needed, clouds 69%.
Kp requirements by location
1Tallahassee
| 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
2Jacksonville
| 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
3Orlando
| On the horizon | Kp 8.4 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 9.0 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 9.0 |
Kp now 2.0: 6.4 short of the horizon
4Tampa
| On the horizon | Kp 8.5 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 9.0 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 9.0 |
Kp now 2.0: 6.5 short of the horizon
5Miami
| On the horizon | Kp 9.0 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 9.0 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 9.0 |
Kp now 2.0: 7.0 short of the horizon
Best dark sky viewing locations
Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park
International Dark Sky Park (DarkSky International)
Florida's first dark sky park: dry prairie with a flat, treeless horizon in every direction, well away from the Orlando glow.
Paved and unpaved county roads from Okeechobee; the park is open at night.
Big Cypress National Preserve
International Dark Sky Park (DarkSky International)
A swamp preserve along the Tamiami Trail with very little nearby light. Open stretches of road give a low view to the north.
Paved US-41 (Tamiami Trail) passes through the preserve.
Aurora status by city
Tallahassee
Jacksonville
Orlando
Tampa
Miami
What time to look tonight in Florida
Best window tonight: 10 PM – 12 AM EST at Tallahassee. Look north, low on the horizon; the hours around local midnight are usually the most active.
Best viewing season in Florida
Aurora in Florida 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. Do not expect moving curtains or a green arc.
The dry season from November to April has the clearest skies and the longest nights. Summer thunderstorms and humid haze make the rest of the year less promising. Flat terrain and shorelines give a low horizon, but the big metro areas and the coastal glow limit the northern view, so drive inland to a preserve.
Peak aurora months
At Tallahassee, Kp most often reaches the threshold on dark nights in January, March, April and May.
GFZ Potsdam Kp since 2015; clouds not counted.
Florida northern lights FAQ
Can you see the northern lights in Florida?
Can I see the northern lights in Florida tonight?
Where are the darkest skies in Florida?
What Kp do I need to see the northern lights in Florida?
Free app for iPhone and Android
Track aurora across Florida
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.