Northern lights in Florida

Very rarely. NOAA's storm scale names Florida as the far edge of what extreme geomagnetic storms reach, and those come only a few times per solar cycle. Even so, in 2024 Floridians photographed the aurora twice, in May from the Panhandle and in October from Central Florida.

Tonight's northern lights forecast

Loading NOAA's Kp forecast…

How strong a storm each city in Florida needs

The farther a place is from the magnetic pole, the stronger the geomagnetic storm needed to push the aurora into view. These levels come from each city's geomagnetic latitude and NOAA's storm scale, which says how far south aurora is usually seen at each level. They are for aurora low on the northern horizon from a dark spot; overhead displays need more. Across Florida the level ranges from stronger than Kp 9 (rare, extreme storms only) in Jacksonville to stronger than Kp 9 (rare, extreme storms only) in Key West.

City	Geomagnetic latitude	Aurora usually needs
Jacksonville	39.4°	stronger than Kp 9 (rare, extreme storms only)
Tallahassee	39.4°	stronger than Kp 9 (rare, extreme storms only)
Pensacola	39.3°	stronger than Kp 9 (rare, extreme storms only)
Panama City	39.1°	stronger than Kp 9 (rare, extreme storms only)
Gainesville	38.7°	stronger than Kp 9 (rare, extreme storms only)
Palm Coast	38.6°	stronger than Kp 9 (rare, extreme storms only)
Deltona	37.9°	stronger than Kp 9 (rare, extreme storms only)
Daytona Beach	38.2°	stronger than Kp 9 (rare, extreme storms only)
Ocala	38.2°	stronger than Kp 9 (rare, extreme storms only)
Orlando	37.5°	stronger than Kp 9 (rare, extreme storms only)
Apopka	37.7°	stronger than Kp 9 (rare, extreme storms only)
Tampa	37°	stronger than Kp 9 (rare, extreme storms only)
Palm Bay	37°	stronger than Kp 9 (rare, extreme storms only)
Lakeland	37.1°	stronger than Kp 9 (rare, extreme storms only)
Port St. Lucie	36.3°	stronger than Kp 9 (rare, extreme storms only)
Sarasota	36.3°	stronger than Kp 9 (rare, extreme storms only)
West Palm Beach	35.8°	stronger than Kp 9 (rare, extreme storms only)
North Port	36.1°	stronger than Kp 9 (rare, extreme storms only)
Cape Coral	35.7°	stronger than Kp 9 (rare, extreme storms only)
Delray Beach	35.5°	stronger than Kp 9 (rare, extreme storms only)
Bonita Springs	35.4°	stronger than Kp 9 (rare, extreme storms only)
Miami	34.8°	stronger than Kp 9 (rare, extreme storms only)
Fort Lauderdale	35.2°	stronger than Kp 9 (rare, extreme storms only)
Homestead	34.5°	stronger than Kp 9 (rare, extreme storms only)
Key West	33.6°	stronger than Kp 9 (rare, extreme storms only)

How these levels are worked out: our methods.

Can you see the northern lights in Florida?

Only during the biggest storms. NOAA’s scale puts Florida at the edge of what extreme storms reach, at about 40 degrees geomagnetic latitude, and those come only a few times per 11-year solar cycle. Even then the aurora is usually a faint glow on the northern horizon. The table above compares tonight’s forecast with each city’s level.

What 2024 showed

May 10–11, 2024: during the strongest storm in more than two decades, WJHG reported the aurora as far south as the Florida Panhandle and collected viewer photos from Northwest Florida. NASA says the storm’s auroras reached the southern US, with reports down to about 26 degrees magnetic latitude.
October 10, 2024: during a severe storm, News 6 ClickOrlando shared viewer photos of the aurora over Central Florida, including Lake Mary, Orlando and Polk County, and from Chipley in the Panhandle.

Where to look

Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park: a certified International Dark Sky Park with wide, flat prairie views.
Big Cypress National Preserve: a certified International Dark Sky Park in South Florida, though farther south means lower odds.
North-facing shores and open fields: in the Panhandle and North Florida, which have the state’s best chance.

Tips

Use your camera. NOAA notes that a dim aurora looks pale to the eye and shows color on a camera.
Look very low in the north. Make sure no trees or buildings block the horizon.
Get away from the coast’s city lights. Florida’s metro areas light up much of the sky.

Read how to see the northern lights and browse certified dark-sky places. Neighbors: Georgia and Alabama.

Dark-sky places near Jacksonville

Certified dark-sky places are among the best spots to watch for aurora: little light pollution and, often, open views to the north.

Okefenokee State Park (International Dark Sky Park, 2016): 54 miles NW of Jacksonville.
Groveland, Florida (International Dark Sky Community, 2023): 124 miles S of Jacksonville.
Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park (International Dark Sky Park, 2016): 196 miles S of Jacksonville.
Big Cypress National Preserve (International Dark Sky Park, 2016): 304 miles S of Jacksonville.
Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (International Dark Sky Park, 2020): 343 miles N of Jacksonville.

Questions and answers

Can you see the northern lights in Miami or Orlando?

Only during severe or extreme storms, and then mostly in photos. During the severe October 2024 storm, viewers sent News 6 ClickOrlando photos from Orlando, Lake Mary and other Central Florida spots.

What does the aurora look like from Florida?

Usually a faint red or pink glow very low in the north; News 6 ClickOrlando described the October 2024 aurora in Florida as reddish and very low on the horizon. From this far south you see only the top of the aurora, where oxygen glows red, as NOAA explains.

Where is the darkest sky in Florida?

Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park and Big Cypress National Preserve are certified International Dark Sky Parks. Pick a spot with a clear northern horizon.

Other states

Sources

NOAA Space Weather Scales, NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center
Northern Lights visible in Northwest Florida, WJHG
DID YOU SEE IT? Viewers share photos of Northern Lights over Florida, News 6 ClickOrlando
How NASA Tracked the Most Intense Solar Storm in Decades, NASA
Find a Place, DarkSky International
Aurora Tutorial, NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center