Northern Lights Tonight in Virginia
Aurora in Virginia is rare and appears only during severe geomagnetic storms, from about Kp 6.1 in the north to Kp 6.7 on the coast. Tonight's peak Kp is 3.7 (active): aurora is unlikely anywhere in Virginia.
Rare here: only severe storms. Since 2015, Kp reached Winchester's threshold of 6.1 on a dark night at least 12 times: July 3, 2026; March 22, 2026; March 21, 2026; March 20, 2026; January 20, 2026; January 19, 2026.
Best chance in Virginia tonight
UnlikelyWinchester: unlikely, peak Kp 3.7 against Kp 6.1 needed, clouds 33%.
Kp requirements by location
1Winchester
| 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
2Roanoke
| 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
3Richmond
| 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
4Abingdon
| 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
5Norfolk
| On the horizon | Kp 6.7 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 7.7 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 8.7 |
Kp now 2.0: 4.7 short of the horizon
Best dark sky viewing locations
Staunton River State Park
International Dark Sky Park (DarkSky International)
A Southside Virginia park by the Staunton River and Kerr Reservoir, with low light pollution and an open field for sky watching.
Paved state roads to the park entrance near Scottsburg.
Natural Bridge State Park
International Dark Sky Park (DarkSky International)
A Blue Ridge valley park southwest of Lexington with dark skies. Ridges block parts of the horizon, so use open ground.
Paved US-11 and park roads from Natural Bridge.
Shenandoah National Park (Big Meadows)
A high, grassy clearing on Skyline Drive at over 3,500 feet, far from large cities, with a broad open sky.
Paved Skyline Drive; fees apply and winter weather can close it.
Aurora status by city
Winchester
Roanoke
Richmond
Abingdon
Norfolk
What time to look tonight in Virginia
Best window tonight: 2 AM – 5 AM EST at Winchester. Look north, low on the horizon; the hours around local midnight are usually the most active.
Best viewing season in Virginia
Aurora in Virginia 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 or pink glow on the northern horizon that is easy to miss by eye, while a phone camera on night mode records it more clearly. Expect a glow, not moving curtains.
Winter has the longest nights, but Virginia's humid air and coastal storms bring plenty of cloud. The Blue Ridge and Shenandoah Valley offer the darkest sites, and you want a ridge or open field with a clear view north. Washington and Richmond light domes hurt the northern and central parts of the state.
Peak aurora months
At Winchester, Kp most often reaches the threshold on dark nights in May and September.
GFZ Potsdam Kp since 2015; clouds not counted.
Virginia northern lights FAQ
Can you see the northern lights in Virginia?
Can I see the northern lights in Virginia tonight?
Where are the darkest skies in Virginia?
What Kp do I need to see the northern lights in Virginia?
Free app for iPhone and Android
Track aurora across Virginia
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.