Unlikely
Best chance in California: Redding
Free push alerts built on NOAA space weather data, plus the 72-hour forecast, cloud cover and darkness window for Redding.
Northern lights in California are rare: they need a geomagnetic storm at Kp 9, the top of the scale, to reach this far south. AuroraMe tracks 9 locations across California, all at Kp 9; Redding has the highest magnetic latitude.
Cities Covered
9
Monitoring locations across California
Magnetic Latitude Range
39.1°–46.2° MLAT
Prime aurora viewing latitudes
Required Kp Index
Kp 9.0–9.0
Minimum activity for visibility
Kp Requirements by Location
Redding
46.2° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 9.0+ Horizon
Kp 9.0+ Optimal
Kp 9.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Sacramento
44.3° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 9.0+ Horizon
Kp 9.0+ Optimal
Kp 9.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Oakland
43.5° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 9.0+ Horizon
Kp 9.0+ Optimal
Kp 9.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
San Francisco
43.4° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 9.0+ Horizon
Kp 9.0+ Optimal
Kp 9.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
San Jose
43.1° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 9.0+ Horizon
Kp 9.0+ Optimal
Kp 9.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Fresno
42.8° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 9.0+ Horizon
Kp 9.0+ Optimal
Kp 9.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Aurora Status by City
Redding
Located at 46.2° MLAT, aurora requires significant storm activity. KP 8+ events several times per year bring northern lights within view.
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
Sacramento
At 44.3° MLAT, aurora is an uncommon treat. Severe geomagnetic storms can occasionally push northern lights to this latitude. Set alerts for KP 8+ events.
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
Oakland
Rare aurora viewing at 43.5° magnetic latitude. Only major geomagnetic storms push the northern lights this far south, so it is worth monitoring during solar maximum.
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
San Francisco
Aurora events are rare at 43.4° magnetic latitude but spectacular when they occur. Major solar storms with KP 9+ can bring the display south.
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
San Jose
Rare aurora viewing at 43.1° magnetic latitude. Only major geomagnetic storms push the northern lights this far south, so it is worth monitoring during solar maximum.
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
Fresno
Rare aurora viewing at 42.8° magnetic latitude. Only major geomagnetic storms push the northern lights this far south, so it is worth monitoring during solar maximum.
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
Los Angeles
Rare aurora viewing at 40.3° magnetic latitude. Only major geomagnetic storms push the northern lights this far south, so it is worth monitoring during solar maximum.
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
Long Beach
Rare aurora viewing at 40.0° magnetic latitude. Only major geomagnetic storms push the northern lights this far south, so it is worth monitoring during solar maximum.
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
San Diego
Rare aurora viewing at 39.1° magnetic latitude. Only major geomagnetic storms push the northern lights this far south, so it is worth monitoring during solar maximum.
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
Best Viewing Season in California
In a typical year no location we track in California records a single clear night with Kp at its threshold. Only an extreme geomagnetic storm brings aurora this far south. Kp last reached the local threshold on 2024-05-11. Figures below are for Fresno, the best-placed of the 9 locations we track in California. They describe a typical year built from the 1996-2026 planetary Kp record and the 2001-2020 cloud normal — not a forecast. Each city page shows tonight's live cloud, moon and darkness instead.
Geographic Advantages
Magnetic Latitude 39.1°–46.2° MLAT
Cities Covered 9 locations
Winter Darkness 11.2 h in December
Dark Sky Sites 0 Bortle 1-3
What It Would Take
Clear Nights a Year Under 1 a year
Kp Needed Kp 9+
Last Kp Threshold 2024-05-11
Oval Position (model) 5.9° above the northern horizon
Track with AuroraMe
Coverage All 9 cities
Advance Notice 30 minutes
Weather Integration Cloud cover
Predictions Best viewing times
That oval line is a model estimate of where the aurora sits at extreme Kp, not a measurement — the threshold date above comes from the Kp record itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see the northern lights in California?
No — not in a typical year. California averages under one clear night with the aurora in reach, and the planetary index has to reach Kp 9+ for it to be visible at all, which last happened on 2024-05-11. Only an extreme geomagnetic storm brings the aurora this far south, so this is a watch-the-alerts situation rather than a month to plan around.
Where are the darkest skies in California?
Check our city pages for specific dark sky recommendations near each location.
