Northern lights in Texas tonight
The aurora forecast for Texas, hour by hour: the Kp index NOAA expects, how dark it gets, the Moon and the clouds, for the north of the state (Amarillo) where the odds are best.
Unlikely Sunday, October 25
The highest Kp expected after dark tonight is 3. Amarillo (north Texas) needs about Kp 9 (extreme storms only) to see the aurora low on the northern horizon, and the sky cover forecast after dark averages 77%. The Moon is 100% lit.
| Time | Sky | Kp | Clouds | Moon | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 PM | Dark | 3.00 | 80% | 17° | Clouds in the way |
| 9 PM | Dark | 3.00 | 69% | 29° | Unlikely |
| 10 PM | Dark | 2.00 | 78% | 41° | Clouds in the way |
| 11 PM | Dark | 2.00 | 88% | 52° | Clouds in the way |
| 12 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 82% | 63° | Clouds in the way |
| 1 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 59% | 71° | Unlikely |
| 2 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 58% | 71° | Unlikely |
| 3 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 71% | 63° | Unlikely |
| 4 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 75% | 53° | Clouds in the way |
| 5 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 84% | 41° | Clouds in the way |
| 6 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 89% | 30° | Clouds in the way |
| 7 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 92% | 18° | 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 Texas
Texas 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 Texas
Between 2006 and 2025, the Kp index never went above what Amarillo 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 Amarillo 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 Amarillo |
|---|---|---|
| Sun, Oct 25 | 3 | Unlikely |
| Mon, Oct 26 | 2 | Unlikely |
| Tue, Oct 27 | 2 | Unlikely |
| Wed, Oct 28 | 2 | Unlikely |
| Thu, Oct 29 | 2 | Unlikely |
| Fri, Oct 30 | 2 | Unlikely |
| Sat, Oct 31 | 5 | Unlikely |
| Sun, Nov 1 | 5 | Unlikely |
| Mon, Nov 2 | 3 | Unlikely |
| Tue, Nov 3 | 2 | Unlikely |
First 10 days shown. Full table: 27-day aurora forecast.
Where to watch in Texas
Texas is a long way from the auroral zone, and displays are very rare. In May 2024 people across the state photographed a pink and red sky, though most of it was clearer on camera than to the eye. The Panhandle around Amarillo sits farthest north and has wide, dark plains.
Find flat ground or a canyon rim with a low, open northern horizon.
- Lake Meredith National Recreation Area: reservoir recreation area north of Amarillo
- Caprock Canyons State Park: canyon state park southeast of Amarillo
- Copper Breaks State Park: dark rural state park near Quanah, north Texas
Questions people ask
Can you see the northern lights in Texas?
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. Sun and Moon: Astronomy Engine. Unofficial estimates, not a guarantee.
Page checked: October 25, 2026.