Northern lights in Austin tonight
The aurora forecast for Austin, Texas, hour by hour: the Kp index NOAA expects, darkness, the Moon and the cloud forecast for the city.
Unlikely Saturday, October 31
The highest Kp expected after dark tonight is 4.67. Austin needs about Kp 9 (extreme storms only) to see the aurora low on the northern horizon, and the sky cover forecast after dark averages 55%. The Moon is 57% lit.
| Time | Sky | Kp | Clouds | Moon | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 PM | Dark | 3.67 | 52% | down | Unlikely |
| 9 PM | Dark | 3.67 | 44% | down | Unlikely |
| 10 PM | Dark | 4.67 | 57% | down | Unlikely |
| 11 PM | Dark | 4.67 | 50% | down | Unlikely |
| 12 AM | Dark | 4.67 | 50% | down | Unlikely |
| 1 AM | Dark | 3.33 | 52% | 9° | Unlikely |
| 1 AM | Dark | 3.33 | 46% | 21° | Unlikely |
| 2 AM | Dark | 3.33 | 59% | 33° | Unlikely |
| 3 AM | Dark | 2.67 | 61% | 46° | Unlikely |
| 4 AM | Dark | 2.67 | 66% | 58° | Unlikely |
| 5 AM | Dark | 2.67 | 72% | 71° | Unlikely |
| 6 AM | Twilight | 2.33 | 75% | 80° | Not dark yet |
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 Austin
Austin, TX 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 Austin
Between 2006 and 2025, the Kp index never went above what Austin 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 Austin 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 Austin |
|---|---|---|
| Sat, Oct 31 | 5 | Unlikely |
| Sun, Nov 1 | 4 | Unlikely |
| Mon, Nov 2 | 3 | Unlikely |
| Tue, Nov 3 | 2 | Unlikely |
| Wed, Nov 4 | 2 | Unlikely |
| 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 |
First 10 days shown. Full table: 27-day aurora forecast.
Where to watch in Austin
Austin is about as far south as aurora reports reach in the US, and sightings are extremely rare. The few local images, mainly from May 2024, came from long camera exposures. The Hill Country west of town is much darker than the I-35 corridor.
Granite domes and hilltops in the Hill Country give the lowest, cleanest view to the north.
- Enchanted Rock State Natural Area: granite dome park north of Fredericksburg, about 85 miles west
- Pedernales Falls State Park: river state park near Johnson City, about 35 miles west
For the darkest skies in the state, see northern lights in Texas.
Nearby cities
Questions people ask
Can you see the northern lights in Austin, TX?
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: October 31, 2026.