November 9, 2026 northern lights forecast: Kp 4.7 (G1) expected — in range of Vancouver, Aberdeen. See the storm details

Northern Lights Tonight in Ohio

Updated

Ohio sees aurora in strong storms: the Lake Erie shore from about Kp 5.5, Cincinnati and the Ohio River valley closer to Kp 6.0. Tonight's peak Kp is 3.7 (active): aurora is unlikely anywhere in Ohio.

Locations covered
4
Magnetic latitude
48.6–50.9°
Kp needed
5.5–6.0

Best chance in Ohio tonight

Unlikely

Toledo: unlikely, peak Kp 3.7 against Kp 5.5 needed, clouds 50%.

Kp requirements by location

1Toledo

On the horizonKp 5.5
Clearly visibleKp 6.5
Bright, overheadKp 7.5

Kp now 2.0: 3.5 short of the horizon

2Cleveland

On the horizonKp 5.5
Clearly visibleKp 6.5
Bright, overheadKp 7.5

Kp now 2.0: 3.5 short of the horizon

3Columbus

On the horizonKp 5.8
Clearly visibleKp 6.8
Bright, overheadKp 7.8

Kp now 2.0: 3.8 short of the horizon

4Cincinnati

On the horizonKp 6.0
Clearly visibleKp 7.0
Bright, overheadKp 8.0

Kp now 2.0: 4.0 short of the horizon

Best dark sky viewing locations

Ohio: forecast points and dark-sky places1234123
Circles: forecast points (colored by tonight's status). Squares: dark-sky places.

Observatory Park (Geauga County)

33 mi from Cleveland128 mi from Toledo

International Dark Sky Park (DarkSky International)

A county park east of Cleveland with an observatory and a dark sky by Ohio standards.

Paved county roads in Montville Township; hours are set by Geauga Park District.

Geneva State Park

45 mi from Cleveland134 mi from Toledo

A Lake Erie shoreline park near Geneva-on-the-Lake. The beach looks north over open water, with no land lights across the lake.

Paved OH-534 to the park; Ohio state parks have no entry fee.

Kelleys Island State Park

43 mi from Toledo53 mi from Cleveland

An island in western Lake Erie with an open view over the lake to the north. Island lighting is limited.

Ferry from Marblehead or Sandusky, not open all winter.

Aurora status by city

Toledo

Forecast point
Unlikely
Needs Kp 5.5 Peak Kp 3.7 Clouds 50%

Cleveland

City forecast
Unlikely
Needs Kp 5.5 Peak Kp 3.7 Clouds 64%

Columbus

City forecast
Unlikely
Needs Kp 5.8 Peak Kp 3.7 Clouds 17%

Cincinnati

Forecast point
Unlikely
Needs Kp 6.0 Peak Kp 3.7 Clouds 0%

What time to look tonight in Ohio

Best window tonight: 3 AM – 5 AM EST at Toledo. Look north, low on the horizon; the hours around local midnight are usually the most active.

Best viewing season in Ohio

Ohio's best nights come from late autumn to early spring, when darkness lasts 12 hours or longer. The Lake Erie shore has the clearest horizon, because a north-facing beach looks over open water. Inland, a clear northern view needs rural land away from the Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati light domes.

Cloud is the main problem. Lake-effect snow belts cover the northeast, especially east of Cleveland, and winter overcast across the Ohio Valley can last for days. Look for the clear, cold nights behind a front, and drive to the lake or to farmland north of your town.

Peak aurora months

At Toledo, Kp most often reaches the threshold on dark nights in March, May and September.

GFZ Potsdam Kp since 2015; clouds not counted.

Ohio northern lights FAQ

Can you see the northern lights in Ohio?
Yes. Toledo needs Kp 5.5 and Cincinnati Kp 6.0; over the last three years Kp reached Toledo's threshold on about 16 dark nights a year, most often in March, May and September. Clouds and darkness decide the rest.
Can I see the northern lights in Ohio tonight?
Probably not. Tonight's peak Kp is 3.7 (active): aurora is unlikely anywhere in Ohio.
Where are the darkest skies in Ohio?
Observatory Park (Geauga County), Geneva State Park and Kelleys Island State Park. Observatory Park (Geauga County) holds an official dark-sky designation. Pick one with an open view to the north.
What Kp do I need to see the northern lights in Ohio?
From Kp 5.5 at Toledo to Kp 6.0 at Cincinnati. About one Kp less can show on a phone camera; about two more puts the aurora high in the sky.

Free app for iPhone and Android

Track aurora across Ohio

The forecast on this page, watching your location all night and telling you when to step outside.

BEST HOUR

The hour tonight when Kp, clouds and darkness line up for your spot.

WAKE UP

A push alert 30–90 minutes before the aurora reaches your sky, even at 2 AM.

CLEAR SKY

Where the clouds open nearby, so you know which way to drive.

Explore more

Country

Northern lights in the US

State

Unlikely

Pennsylvania

State

Unlikely

Virginia

State

Low

Michigan

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.