Northern lights in Las Vegas tonight
The aurora forecast for Las Vegas, Nevada, hour by hour: the Kp index NOAA expects, darkness, the Moon and the cloud forecast for the city.
Clouds in the way Saturday, October 31
The highest Kp expected after dark tonight is 4.67. Las Vegas needs about Kp 9 (extreme storms only) to see the aurora low on the northern horizon, and the sky cover forecast after dark averages 96%. The Moon is 56% lit.
| Time | Sky | Kp | Clouds | Moon | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 PM | Dark | 3.67 | 98% | down | Clouds in the way |
| 8 PM | Dark | 4.67 | 93% | down | Clouds in the way |
| 9 PM | Dark | 4.67 | 90% | down | Clouds in the way |
| 10 PM | Dark | 4.67 | 90% | down | Clouds in the way |
| 11 PM | Dark | 3.33 | 94% | down | Clouds in the way |
| 12 AM | Dark | 3.33 | 99% | 9° | Clouds in the way |
| 1 AM | Dark | 3.33 | 95% | 20° | Clouds in the way |
| 1 AM | Dark | 2.67 | 99% | 31° | Clouds in the way |
| 2 AM | Dark | 2.67 | 97% | 43° | Clouds in the way |
| 3 AM | Dark | 2.67 | 98% | 55° | Clouds in the way |
| 4 AM | Dark | 2.33 | 94% | 65° | Clouds in the way |
| 5 AM | Dark | 2.33 | 99% | 73° | Clouds in the way |
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 Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV 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 Las Vegas
Between 2006 and 2025, the Kp index never went above what Las Vegas 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 Las Vegas 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 Las Vegas |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Las Vegas
Las Vegas is one of the brightest spots on any night map, so the aurora is almost out of reach from town. Only extreme storms push a red glow this far south, and even then it was cameras, not eyes, that caught most of it. The empty desert to the north and northeast is the only real option.
Drive north out of the valley and aim low over the desert, with the city glow behind you.
- Valley of Fire State Park: red rock state park near Overton, about 50 miles northeast
- Great Basin National Park: high desert national park near Baker, about 280 miles north
Questions people ask
Can you see the northern lights in Las Vegas, NV?
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.