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

Northern Lights Tonight in Vermont

Updated

Vermont borders Quebec, so the Northeast Kingdom sees aurora from about Kp 5.1; Brattleboro in the south needs closer to Kp 5.5. Tonight's peak Kp is 3.7 (active): aurora is unlikely anywhere in Vermont.

Locations covered
5
Magnetic latitude
50.7–52.7°
Kp needed
5.1–5.5

Best chance in Vermont tonight

Unlikely

Newport: unlikely, peak Kp 3.7 against Kp 5.1 needed, clouds 100%.

Kp requirements by location

1Newport

On the horizonKp 5.1
Clearly visibleKp 6.1
Bright, overheadKp 7.1

Kp now 2.0: 3.1 short of the horizon

2Burlington

On the horizonKp 5.1
Clearly visibleKp 6.1
Bright, overheadKp 7.1

Kp now 2.0: 3.1 short of the horizon

3St. Johnsbury

On the horizonKp 5.2
Clearly visibleKp 6.2
Bright, overheadKp 7.2

Kp now 2.0: 3.2 short of the horizon

4Montpelier

On the horizonKp 5.2
Clearly visibleKp 6.2
Bright, overheadKp 7.2

Kp now 2.0: 3.2 short of the horizon

5Brattleboro

On the horizonKp 5.5
Clearly visibleKp 6.5
Bright, overheadKp 7.5

Kp now 2.0: 3.5 short of the horizon

Best dark sky viewing locations

Vermont: forecast points and dark-sky places12345123
Circles: forecast points (colored by tonight's status). Squares: dark-sky places.

Lake Willoughby

16 mi from Newport22 mi from St. Johnsbury

A deep glacial lake in the Northeast Kingdom with few lights nearby. The long lake runs north-south, so the north end has an open view.

Paved VT-5A runs along the shore; pull-offs are limited.

Mount Philo State Park

15 mi from Burlington32 mi from Montpelier

A small hill above Lake Champlain with a summit that opens a wide view across the lake valley toward the north.

Paved summit road in season; the road is otherwise a short hike.

Groton State Forest

15 mi from Montpelier16 mi from St. Johnsbury

A large state forest in the Northeast Kingdom with several lakes. Open shorelines give a dark view, with very few lights.

Paved US-302 and VT-232; state park roads are seasonal.

Aurora status by city

Newport

Forecast point
Unlikely
Needs Kp 5.1 Peak Kp 3.7 Clouds 100%

Burlington

Forecast point
Unlikely
Needs Kp 5.1 Peak Kp 3.7 Clouds 100%

St. Johnsbury

Forecast point
Unlikely
Needs Kp 5.2 Peak Kp 3.7 Clouds 90%

Montpelier

Forecast point
Unlikely
Needs Kp 5.2 Peak Kp 3.7 Clouds 90%

Brattleboro

Forecast point
Unlikely
Needs Kp 5.5 Peak Kp 3.7 Clouds 47%

What time to look tonight in Vermont

Best window tonight: 10 PM – 12 AM EST at Newport. Look north, low on the horizon; the hours around local midnight are usually the most active.

Best viewing season in Vermont

Vermont's aurora window runs from autumn to early spring. Cold, clear nights come with high pressure after a passing front. The Northeast Kingdom, along the Quebec border, has the least light and the highest odds. Burlington and the Champlain Valley also work from the lakeshore.

Winter is the cloudiest season, with frequent snow and lake-effect bands near the Green Mountains. Mountains can hide a low northern horizon, so use lake shores, hilltops or open farmland. Cold is serious, with nights well below freezing.

Peak aurora months

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

GFZ Potsdam Kp since 2015; clouds not counted.

Vermont northern lights FAQ

Can you see the northern lights in Vermont?
Yes. Newport needs Kp 5.1 and Brattleboro Kp 5.5; over the last three years Kp reached Newport's threshold on about 25 dark nights a year, most often in May and September. Clouds and darkness decide the rest.
Can I see the northern lights in Vermont tonight?
Probably not. Tonight's peak Kp is 3.7 (active): aurora is unlikely anywhere in Vermont.
Where are the darkest skies in Vermont?
Lake Willoughby, Mount Philo State Park and Groton State Forest. Pick one with an open view to the north.
What Kp do I need to see the northern lights in Vermont?
From Kp 5.1 at Newport to Kp 5.5 at Brattleboro. 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 Vermont

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

Unlikely

Ohio

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.