Tonight in Colorado Springs: Aurora is unlikely in Colorado Springs right now. Current Kp is 0.7, below the local Kp 9+ threshold. AuroraMe watches Kp, clouds and darkness for this location and sends a free alert when the next viewing window opens.
aurora visibility now
Unlikely
Kp 0.7 (Low) — need Kp 9+ here
Kp now 0.7 need 9+
Clouds 0% Clear
Sky Dark visibility
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com Licensed under CC BY 4.0. Modified by AuroraMe: location snapped to a privacy-preserving 0.25° grid and values rounded for display.
Get a 72-hour aurora forecast and free alerts for Colorado Springs AuroraMe tracks Kp, clouds and darkness for Colorado Springs, then sends a free push when the next viewing window opens.
Forecast
Scan the next hours here. The free app watches the longer window and sends alerts when conditions improve.
Time
Kp
Visibility
27.08, Today
06:00
3.3
Unlikely
07:00
3.3
Unlikely
08:00
3.3
Unlikely
09:00
3.7
Unlikely
10:00
3.7
Unlikely
11:00
3.7
Unlikely
Kp Index: 27-Day Forecast
Predicted geomagnetic activity based on solar rotation cycle.
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aurora nights per year
Kp ≥ 9 · 11 years of data
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#1
Sep Loading data...
Planning a trip? Find the best month and how many nights to stay
📅 All 12 months ranked 🛏️ Min nights for 80% chance 🔔 Push alert 1h before aurora 🌙 72h hour-by-hour forecast
Why this forecast?
Aurora Zone
Higher magnetic latitude = better aurora visibility. Your location's magnetic latitude determines how often auroras appear overhead.
Status Levels:
Perfect Above 62.0° - Excellent aurora visibility (daily activity)
Good 56.0° - 62.0° - Good aurora visibility (regular storms)
Acceptable 50.0° - 56.0° - Fair aurora visibility (strong storms only)
Low Below 50.0° - Poor aurora visibility (extreme storms)
Aurora Zone
Low 47.3°
Kp index
Kp measures global magnetic disturbance. Higher Kp = stronger auroras visible at lower latitudes.
Status Levels:
Storm Kp 6-9 - Geomagnetic storm, strong auroras
Good Kp 3-6 - Moderate activity, good conditions
Low Kp 1-3 - Low activity, weak auroras
Very Quiet Kp 0-1 - Very quiet, minimal auroras
Kp index
Very Quiet 0.7
Cloud Cover Impact
Clear skies are essential for aurora viewing. Clouds block your view of the northern lights. The percentage shows cloud coverage (0% = clear skies, 100% = overcast).
Status Levels:
Clear Clear (0-25%) - Perfect for aurora viewing
Partly Cloudy Partly Cloudy (26-50%) - May partially block view
Cloudy Cloudy (51-85%) - Significantly blocks aurora
Overcast Overcast (85%+) - Blocks aurora completely
Cloud Cover Impact
☀️ Clear 0%
Moonlight
Bright moonlight can wash out faint auroras. New moon provides the darkest skies for optimal viewing.
Status Levels:
New Moon Darkest skies - Best for faint auroras
Crescent Dim moonlight - Good for viewing
Quarter Moderate moonlight - May wash out weak auroras
Gibbous Bright moonlight - Reduces aurora visibility
Full Moon Very bright - Only strong auroras visible
Moonlight
🌕 Full Moon 95%
Darkness
Darker skies are essential for aurora viewing. The sun must be below the horizon for auroras to be visible.
Status Levels:
Night Darkest conditions - Optimal for auroras
Astronomical Twilight Dark enough - Good aurora viewing
Nautical Twilight Getting darker - Weak auroras may appear
Daylight Sun is above horizon - No aurora visible
Darkness
Astronomical Twilight
Get Alerted Before Aurora Appears
Push alerts 20–90 min before northern lights. 72h forecast, cloud cover, 11 years of historical data.
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Short-term outlook for the next few days
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Trip Planner: Best Days & Best Month
Aurora is Rare in Colorado Springs — But Not Impossible
Kp 9+ needed to see aurora here
0 possible aurora nights in the next 27 days
Sep, Oct, Mar, Apr best months to visit
Aurora Borealis Viewing in Colorado Springs
Pikes Peak region city with high-altitude aurora viewing opportunities.
Colorado Springs sits at 47.3° magnetic latitude, which means aurora typically becomes visible when the Kp index reaches 9+. Aurora sightings in Colorado Springs require stronger geomagnetic storms (Kp 9+), which occur a few times per year. When storms do hit, the best viewing window is 10 PM to 2 AM local time under clear, dark skies.
Cloud cover is the most common reason people miss aurora even during strong storms. AuroraMe combines the Kp index with real-time cloud forecasts, moon phase, and darkness data to give you a single visibility status — so you know whether it's worth going outside tonight.
For the broader storm picture before checking Colorado Springs, start with the broader forecast hub and the geomagnetic storm tracker. Low-latitude places like Colorado Springs usually need a severe geomagnetic storm, clear northern horizon, and full darkness before northern lights become realistic.
Other cities in United States
Denver
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CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
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Boulder
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Fort Collins
Northern Colorado university city with Front Range aurora displays
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Cheyenne
Wyoming capital with high-altitude aurora viewing from the Great Plains
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Santa Fe
High-altitude state capital with exceptional dark skies for rare aurora events
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
Albuquerque
New Mexico's largest city with high-desert aurora viewing during solar maximum
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
Planning a trip? See the best months for Colorado Springs → • Northern lights tonight — all cities →
Learn More About the Northern Lights
- How to See the Northern Lights — Beginner's Guide
- Kp Index Explained — What It Means for Aurora
- Best Time to See the Northern Lights
- Geomagnetic Storms Explained — G1–G5 Scale
- Best Aurora Forecast Apps (Free & Paid)
- Northern Lights vs Aurora Borealis — The Same Thing?
- Can You See the Aurora With the Naked Eye?
Northern Lights in Colorado Springs: Quick Guide
Minimum Kp Needed
9.0+
Viewing Frequency
very rare
Current Kp Index
0.7
How often can you see northern lights in Colorado Springs?
Based on its magnetic latitude of <strong>47.3°</strong>, aurora viewing in Colorado Springs is <strong>very rare (1-5 nights per year during major storms)</strong>. We are currently near solar maximum (2024-2025), so expect higher-than-average activity.
Best viewing season: September to March, with peak activity during equinoxes (September and March).
What Kp index do I need to see aurora in Colorado Springs?
For Colorado Springs, you need a minimum Kp index of <strong>9.0</strong> for aurora to be visible. This threshold is calculated based on the city's magnetic latitude (47.3°).
Higher Kp values produce brighter, more active displays:
- Kp 9.0+: Strong, colorful displays visible even with some light pollution
Current Kp index: 0.7
Where should I look for aurora in Colorado Springs?
Aurora is rarely visible this far south. When it does appear during extreme storms (Kp 7+), look for a faint glow on the northern horizon.
For best results, seek locations with minimal light pollution and unobstructed views of the sky. From Colorado Springs, aurora typically remains closer to the horizon, so elevated viewing locations help.
Can I see northern lights tonight in Colorado Springs?
Unlikely: Aurora unlikely tonight with Kp 0.7 (below 9.0 threshold for Colorado Springs). Enable alerts to catch future opportunities.
Real-time conditions: 0% cloud cover, Aurora Score 0/100. Check the live forecast above for the latest updates.
Traveling? Track multiple locations easily
Compare aurora chances across cities and get alerts for all your planned destinations.
For brighter shows consider Fairbanks , Yellowknife