Idaho: Northern Lights Tonight, City by City
Aurora season in Idaho runs from September to April.
Idaho tonight
Low
Aurora chance tonight, Idaho overall: Low. Best place: Coeur d'Alene, 10:00 PM–12:00 AM. Clouds are the limit there: about 100% cover tonight.
| Place | Aurora Score | Best viewing window | Cloud cover | Min Kp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coeur d'Alene | 36Low | 10:00 PM–12:00 AM | 100% | 5 |
| Boise | 28Low | 10:00 PM–12:00 AM | 73% | 6 |
| Idaho Falls | 25Low | 3:00 AM–5:00 AM | 89% | 6 |
Idaho: the next nights
Aurora Forecast AI Tracker
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Track the aurora forecast for Idaho with hourly visibility, cloud cover and geomagnetic activity. Save nearby viewing spots, check the best time to look for the Northern Lights, and receive alerts when local conditions improve.
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Idaho in numbers
- Cities on this site
- 3
- Latitude
- 43.5°–47.7°
- Geomagnetic latitude
- 50.1°–54.0°
- Min Kp
- 5–6
- Aurora zone
- Mid-latitude
Best Months to See the Northern Lights in Idaho
The aurora season in Idaho usually runs from September to April.
Where the odds are best in Idaho
| Place | Aurora zone | Min Kp | Geomagnetic latitude | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸Coeur d'AleneIdaho | Mid-latitude | 5 | 54.0° | September to April |
| 🇺🇸Idaho FallsIdaho | Mid-latitude | 6 | 50.7° | September to April |
| 🇺🇸BoiseIdaho | Mid-latitude | 6 | 50.1° | September to April |
Other regions in United States
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see the Northern Lights in Idaho tonight?
Idaho: it depends on where you are and on tonight's sky. Coeur d'Alene needs about Kp 5; Boise needs about Kp 6. On top of that it takes a clear, dark sky — cloud blocks aurora at any Kp. The table at the top of this page has tonight's forecast city by city.
What Kp index is needed to see the Northern Lights in Idaho?
Idaho has no single number. The higher the Kp, the further from the pole the auroral oval reaches, so the threshold rises with distance from the pole: Coeur d'Alene needs about Kp 5, Boise about Kp 6. Each city's page gives its own threshold.
What are the best months to see the Northern Lights in Idaho?
September to April, with November to January the darkest stretch — though at this latitude the season is set by how often a storm reaches you, not by daylight.
Where is the best place to see the Northern Lights in Idaho?
Idaho: of the places in this list, Coeur d'Alene needs the least — about Kp 5 — while Boise needs about Kp 6. Wherever you are, a dark sky away from city lights matters more than the exact spot.