Northern lights in Atlanta tonight
The aurora forecast for Atlanta, Georgia, hour by hour: the Kp index NOAA expects, darkness, the Moon and the cloud forecast for the city.
Unlikely Thursday, November 5
The highest Kp expected after dark tonight is 2.33. Atlanta needs about Kp 9 (extreme storms only) to see the aurora low on the northern horizon, and the sky cover forecast after dark averages 63%. The Moon is 10% lit.
| Time | Sky | Kp | Clouds | Moon | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 PM | Dark | 2.33 | 62% | down | Unlikely |
| 8 PM | Dark | 2.33 | 60% | down | Unlikely |
| 9 PM | Dark | 2.33 | 56% | down | Unlikely |
| 10 PM | Dark | 2.00 | 54% | down | Unlikely |
| 11 PM | Dark | 2.00 | 58% | down | Unlikely |
| 12 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 65% | down | Unlikely |
| 1 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 66% | down | Unlikely |
| 2 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 71% | down | Unlikely |
| 3 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 73% | down | Unlikely |
| 4 AM | Dark | 2.33 | 71% | down | Unlikely |
| 5 AM | Dark | 2.33 | 62% | 6° | Unlikely |
| 6 AM | Dark | 2.33 | 62% | 17° | Unlikely |
Forecast from NOAA SWPC (Kp, 3-hour blocks) and the National Weather Service (sky cover), checked when this page was built. The page updates itself when it can reach our data feed.
What Kp you need in Atlanta
Atlanta, GA sits far from the magnetic pole. The aurora reaches it only in extreme geomagnetic storms, such as the one on May 10-11, 2024, and then mostly as a faint red or pink glow that a phone camera records better than the eye. How we estimate this: our method.
How often the aurora reaches Atlanta
Between 2006 and 2025, the Kp index never went above what Atlanta needs by eye: Kp tops out at 9, and only the strongest storms of a solar cycle bring the aurora this far south. The last ones were the G5 storm of May 10-11, 2024 and the G4 storm of October 10-11, 2024.
The next 27 days
NOAA's 27-day outlook has no day with a largest Kp near the 9 that Atlanta needs. The outlook repeats the Sun's 27-day rotation and cannot see sudden storms, so check the 3-day forecast too.
| Day (UTC) | Largest Kp | At Atlanta |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, Nov 5 | 3 | Unlikely |
| Fri, Nov 6 | 3 | Unlikely |
| Sat, Nov 7 | 3 | Unlikely |
| Sun, Nov 8 | 2 | Unlikely |
| Mon, Nov 9 | 4 | Unlikely |
| Tue, Nov 10 | 3 | Unlikely |
| Wed, Nov 11 | 3 | Unlikely |
| Thu, Nov 12 | 3 | Unlikely |
| Fri, Nov 13 | 2 | Unlikely |
| Sat, Nov 14 | 2 | Unlikely |
First 10 days shown. Full table: 27-day aurora forecast.
Where to watch in Atlanta
From Atlanta the northern lights are very rare. In May 2024 the glow over north Georgia was caught mostly by phone cameras, and the city itself was too bright. The Blue Ridge and Lookout Mountain, about two hours away, give the only real chance.
Pick a mountain overlook that faces north toward Tennessee and North Carolina.
- Cloudland Canyon State Park: canyon rim state park on Lookout Mountain, about 120 miles northwest
- Brasstown Bald: highest point in Georgia, about 120 miles north
Nearby cities
Questions people ask
Can you see the northern lights in Atlanta, GA?
Only in rare, extreme storms. The last time was May 10-11, 2024, when people across the southern US photographed it.
What time is best?
Usually between 10 pm and 2 am local time, when the sky is fully dark and your location faces the night side of the auroral oval. Storms can bring it earlier or later.
Which way should I look?
North, toward a low, open horizon away from city lights. In strong storms the aurora can climb higher or appear overhead.
Is this an official forecast?
No. It is our estimate built from NOAA's Kp forecast, the National Weather Service sky cover forecast and the Sun and Moon positions. It is not a promise.
Sources: Kp forecast and 27-day outlook: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (public domain). Sky cover: National Weather Service (public domain). Kp archive: GFZ, CC BY 4.0. Coordinates: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer. Magnetic latitude: our calculation from the IGRF-14 model of Earth's magnetic field. Sun and Moon: Astronomy Engine. Unofficial estimates, not a guarantee.
Page checked: November 5, 2026.