Unlikely
Best chance in Wyoming: Jackson
Free push alerts built on NOAA space weather data, plus the 72-hour forecast, cloud cover and darkness window for Jackson.
Northern lights in Wyoming are rare: they need a geomagnetic storm of Kp 7 or more to reach this far south. AuroraMe tracks 5 locations across Wyoming; 2 of them need only Kp 7, led by Sheridan.
Cities Covered
5
Monitoring locations across Wyoming
Magnetic Latitude Range
48.8°–52.2° MLAT
Prime aurora viewing latitudes
Required Kp Index
Kp 7.0–8.0
Minimum activity for visibility
Kp Requirements by Location
Jackson
50.5° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 8.0+ Horizon
Kp 9.0+ Optimal
Kp 9.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Casper
50.4° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 8.0+ Horizon
Kp 9.0+ Optimal
Kp 9.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Cheyenne
48.8° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 8.0+ Horizon
Kp 9.0+ Optimal
Kp 9.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Sheridan
52.2° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 7.0+ Horizon
Kp 8.0+ Optimal
Kp 9.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Cody
51.7° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 7.0+ Horizon
Kp 8.0+ Optimal
Kp 9.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Aurora Status by City
Jackson
Aurora reaches Jackson during strong geomagnetic storms at 50.5° magnetic latitude. Watch the northern horizon from a dark spot away from city lights.
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
Casper
Aurora possible at 50.4° magnetic latitude during active periods. KP 6+ required for visibility. Strong storms can bring impressive displays.
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
Cheyenne
Located at 48.8° MLAT, aurora requires significant storm activity. KP 7+ events several times per year bring northern lights within view.
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
Sheridan
Moderate position at 52.2° magnetic latitude. Geomagnetic storms can push the auroral oval far enough south to show aurora low on the northern horizon here.
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Cody
Moderate position at 51.7° magnetic latitude. Geomagnetic storms can push the auroral oval far enough south to show aurora low on the northern horizon here.
CURRENT STATUS
Likely Visible
View
Best Viewing Season in Wyoming
In a typical year no location we track in Wyoming 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 2026-01-21. Figures below are for Sheridan, the best-placed of the 5 locations we track in Wyoming. 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 48.8°–52.2° MLAT
Cities Covered 5 locations
Winter Darkness 11.6 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 7-8
Last Kp Threshold 2026-01-21
Oval Position (model) 50.4° above the northern horizon
Track with AuroraMe
Coverage All 5 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 Wyoming?
No — not in a typical year. Wyoming averages under one clear night with the aurora in reach, and the planetary index has to reach Kp 7+ for it to be visible at all, which last happened on 2026-01-21. 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 Wyoming?
Check our city pages for specific dark sky recommendations near each location.
