Northern lights in Kansas tonight
The aurora forecast for Kansas, hour by hour: the Kp index NOAA expects, how dark it gets, the Moon and the clouds, for the north of the state (Hays) where the odds are best.
Clouds in the way Saturday, October 31
The highest Kp expected after dark tonight is 4.67. Hays (north Kansas) needs about Kp 8 to see the aurora low on the northern horizon, and the sky cover forecast after dark averages 87%. The Moon is 57% lit.
| Time | Sky | Kp | Clouds | Moon | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 PM | Dark | 3.67 | 91% | down | Clouds in the way |
| 9 PM | Dark | 3.67 | 87% | down | Clouds in the way |
| 10 PM | Dark | 4.67 | 81% | down | Clouds in the way |
| 11 PM | Dark | 4.67 | 87% | down | Clouds in the way |
| 12 AM | Dark | 4.67 | 93% | 1° | Clouds in the way |
| 1 AM | Dark | 3.33 | 88% | 11° | Clouds in the way |
| 1 AM | Dark | 3.33 | 83% | 22° | Clouds in the way |
| 2 AM | Dark | 3.33 | 75% | 33° | Clouds in the way |
| 3 AM | Dark | 2.67 | 88% | 44° | Clouds in the way |
| 4 AM | Dark | 2.67 | 87% | 55° | Clouds in the way |
| 5 AM | Dark | 2.67 | 91% | 65° | Clouds in the way |
| 6 AM | Dark | 2.33 | 87% | 71° | 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 Kansas
The farther north (in magnetic terms) you stand, the lower the Kp you need. From Hays, an aurora usually shows low on the northern horizon once Kp reaches about 8; overhead displays need about two steps more. A phone camera in night mode often records it one step earlier than the eye. How we estimate this: our method.
How often the aurora reaches Kansas
Our own count from the official Kp archive: on how many nights each year the Kp index reached about 8 or more while it was dark at Hays. Clouds are not counted, so the real number of nights with a visible aurora is lower. Over the last 10 years the average was 0.5 nights a year; in 2025 it was 1.
Data: Kp index since 1932, GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences (Matzka et al., 2021), CC BY 4.0. Darkness computed by us for each 3-hour interval (Sun 12° or more below the horizon).
The next 27 days
NOAA's 27-day outlook has no day with a largest Kp near the 8 that Hays 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 Hays |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Kansas
Kansas sees the aurora only during strong storms, but the western and north central plains are very dark. Small towns are far apart, so a short drive from Hays or Colby gets you real darkness. Wind and dust can haze the horizon, so calm, clear nights are best.
Flat prairie gives a clean northern horizon almost anywhere. Pull well off the main highway to escape headlights.
- Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge: reservoir and prairie refuge near Phillipsburg, north central Kansas
- Cedar Bluff State Park: reservoir state park south of WaKeeney, west of Hays
- Lake Scott State Park: canyon lake state park north of Scott City, western Kansas
Nearby states
Questions people ask
Can you see the northern lights in Kansas?
Yes, on active nights. From Hays it takes about Kp 8, which happened on about 0.5 nights a year over the last 10 years (before clouds).
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.