Northern lights in Nebraska tonight
The aurora forecast for Nebraska, hour by hour: the Kp index NOAA expects, how dark it gets, the Moon and the clouds, for the north of the state (Valentine) where the odds are best.
Unlikely Tuesday, November 3
The highest Kp expected after dark tonight is 2. Valentine (north Nebraska) needs about Kp 6 to see the aurora low on the northern horizon, and the sky cover forecast after dark averages 51%. The Moon is 25% lit.
| Time | Sky | Kp | Clouds | Moon | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 PM | Dark | 1.67 | 52% | down | Unlikely |
| 8 PM | Dark | 1.67 | 60% | down | Unlikely |
| 9 PM | Dark | 2.00 | 56% | down | Unlikely |
| 10 PM | Dark | 2.00 | 36% | down | Unlikely |
| 11 PM | Dark | 2.00 | 40% | down | Unlikely |
| 12 AM | Dark | 1.67 | 61% | down | Unlikely |
| 1 AM | Dark | 1.67 | 62% | down | Unlikely |
| 2 AM | Dark | 1.67 | 53% | down | Unlikely |
| 3 AM | Dark | 1.33 | 47% | 5° | Unlikely |
| 4 AM | Dark | 1.33 | 55% | 16° | Unlikely |
| 5 AM | Dark | 1.33 | 53% | 26° | Unlikely |
| 6 AM | Dark | 1.33 | 42% | 35° | 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 Nebraska
The farther north (in magnetic terms) you stand, the lower the Kp you need. From Valentine, an aurora usually shows low on the northern horizon once Kp reaches about 6; 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 Nebraska
Our own count from the official Kp archive: on how many nights each year the Kp index reached about 6 or more while it was dark at Valentine. Clouds are not counted, so the real number of nights with a visible aurora is lower. Over the last 10 years the average was 3 nights a year; in 2025 it was 7.
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 6 that Valentine 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 Valentine |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Tue, Nov 10 | 3 | Unlikely |
| Wed, Nov 11 | 3 | Unlikely |
| Thu, Nov 12 | 3 | Unlikely |
First 10 days shown. Full table: 27-day aurora forecast.
Where to watch in Nebraska
Nebraska's Sandhills are among the darkest places in the central US. North central Nebraska around Valentine sees the aurora during strong storms, and the flat land gives a long, clean horizon. Omaha and Lincoln need bigger storms, and a drive north or west helps.
Any rise in the Sandhills with nothing to the north works. Reservoirs and river valleys can also give open northern views.
- Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area: reservoir in the Sandhills, southwest of Valentine
- Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge: prairie refuge on the Niobrara River, east of Valentine
- Ponca State Park: bluff state park on the Missouri River in northeast Nebraska
Cities in Nebraska
Nearby states
Questions people ask
Can you see the northern lights in Nebraska?
Yes, on active nights. From Valentine it takes about Kp 6, which happened on about 3 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: November 3, 2026.