Northern lights in Vermont tonight
The aurora forecast for Vermont, hour by hour: the Kp index NOAA expects, how dark it gets, the Moon and the clouds, for the north of the state (Newport) where the odds are best.
Unlikely Sunday, November 1
The highest Kp expected after dark tonight is 3. Newport (north Vermont) needs about Kp 6 to see the aurora low on the northern horizon, and the sky cover forecast after dark averages 29%. The Moon is 46% lit.
| Time | Sky | Kp | Clouds | Moon | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 PM | Dark | 2.67 | 6% | down | Unlikely |
| 7 PM | Dark | 2.67 | 14% | down | Unlikely |
| 8 PM | Dark | 2.67 | 15% | down | Unlikely |
| 9 PM | Dark | 2.67 | 14% | down | Unlikely |
| 10 PM | Dark | 3.00 | 27% | down | Unlikely |
| 11 PM | Dark | 3.00 | 31% | down | Unlikely |
| 12 AM | Dark | 3.00 | 28% | 9° | Unlikely |
| 1 AM | Dark | 3.00 | 44% | 19° | Unlikely |
| 2 AM | Dark | 3.00 | 35% | 30° | Unlikely |
| 3 AM | Dark | 3.00 | 44% | 40° | Unlikely |
| 4 AM | Dark | 2.67 | 49% | 49° | Unlikely |
| 5 AM | Dark | 2.67 | 41% | 56° | 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 Vermont
The farther north (in magnetic terms) you stand, the lower the Kp you need. From Newport, 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 Vermont
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 Newport. Clouds are not counted, so the real number of nights with a visible aurora is lower. Over the last 10 years the average was 6.4 nights a year; in 2025 it was 14.
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 Newport 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 Newport |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Tue, Nov 10 | 3 | Unlikely |
First 10 days shown. Full table: 27-day aurora forecast.
Where to watch in Vermont
Vermont's Northeast Kingdom is one of the best aurora areas in New England. Around Newport, Island Pond and Lake Willoughby, skies are dark and displays appear during moderate storms. Burlington has a good view north over Lake Champlain.
Lakes and open hills in the Kingdom give clear northern horizons.
- Brighton State Park: lake state park in Island Pond, Northeast Kingdom
- Willoughby State Forest: state forest around Lake Willoughby in Westmore
- Grand Isle State Park: Lake Champlain island park north of Burlington
Nearby states
Questions people ask
Can you see the northern lights in Vermont?
Yes, on active nights. From Newport it takes about Kp 6, which happened on about 6.4 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 1, 2026.