Northern lights in Wyoming tonight
The aurora forecast for Wyoming, hour by hour: the Kp index NOAA expects, how dark it gets, the Moon and the clouds, for the north of the state (Sheridan) where the odds are best.
Unlikely Tuesday, November 3
The highest Kp expected after dark tonight is 2. Sheridan (north Wyoming) needs about Kp 6 to see the aurora low on the northern horizon, and the sky cover forecast after dark averages 11%. The Moon is 25% lit.
| Time | Sky | Kp | Clouds | Moon | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 PM | Twilight | 1.67 | 8% | down | Not dark yet |
| 7 PM | Dark | 1.67 | 8% | down | Unlikely |
| 8 PM | Dark | 2.00 | 4% | down | Unlikely |
| 9 PM | Dark | 2.00 | 6% | down | Unlikely |
| 10 PM | Dark | 2.00 | 5% | down | Unlikely |
| 11 PM | Dark | 1.67 | 8% | down | Unlikely |
| 12 AM | Dark | 1.67 | 10% | down | Unlikely |
| 1 AM | Dark | 1.67 | 13% | down | Unlikely |
| 2 AM | Dark | 1.33 | 12% | 1° | Unlikely |
| 3 AM | Dark | 1.33 | 12% | 11° | Unlikely |
| 4 AM | Dark | 1.33 | 14% | 21° | Unlikely |
| 5 AM | Dark | 1.33 | 29% | 30° | Unlikely |
| 6 AM | Twilight | 1.33 | 29% | 38° | Not dark yet |
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 Wyoming
The farther north (in magnetic terms) you stand, the lower the Kp you need. From Sheridan, 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 Wyoming
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 Sheridan. Clouds are not counted, so the real number of nights with a visible aurora is lower. Over the last 10 years the average was 5.9 nights a year; in 2025 it was 13.
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 Sheridan 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 Sheridan |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Wyoming
Wyoming has some of the emptiest night skies in the country. The north, around Sheridan, Gillette and the Bighorn Basin, has the best aurora odds, while Cheyenne and Casper need strong storms. High winds and early snow are common in the mountains.
Open plains and high mountain passes with a clear northern view work best.
- Bighorn National Forest: national forest west of Sheridan
- Devils Tower National Monument: volcanic tower in northeast Wyoming
- Keyhole State Park: reservoir state park near Moorcroft
Nearby states
Questions people ask
Can you see the northern lights in Wyoming?
Yes, on active nights. From Sheridan it takes about Kp 6, which happened on about 5.9 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.