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Northern lights in Nebraska

Yes, during strong geomagnetic storms. In May 2024 the aurora was easily visible away from city lights all across Nebraska, and the dark Sandhills, home to Merritt Reservoir International Dark Sky Park, give the best views.

Tonight's northern lights forecast

Loading NOAA's Kp forecast…

How strong a storm each city in Nebraska 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 Nebraska the level ranges from Kp 7 (G3) in Norfolk to Kp 7.2 (G3) in North Platte.

CityGeomagnetic latitudeAurora usually needsTonight
Norfolk50.2°Kp 7 (G3)
Omaha49.5°Kp 7.1 (G3)
Lincoln49°Kp 7.2 (G3)
Grand Island49°Kp 7.2 (G3)
North Platte49°Kp 7.2 (G3)

How these levels are worked out: our methods.

How often you can see the aurora in Nebraska

Nebraska lies near the geomagnetic latitude of Illinois, NOAA’s example for strong storms. NOAA counts about 130 days with strong storms per 11-year solar cycle. Northern Nebraska has better odds than the south. The table above shows each city’s level and how tonight’s forecast compares.

Where to watch

  • Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area: in the Sandhills southwest of Valentine. Nebraska Game and Parks says it became the state’s first International Dark Sky Park in 2022.
  • Lewis and Clark Lake: on the South Dakota line in northeast Nebraska. A viewer sent WOWT an aurora photo from the reservoir in May 2024.
  • The Sandhills: Nebraska Game and Parks calls the Sandhills the easternmost of the big dark areas on US light-pollution maps.

Notable sightings

During the May 10–11, 2024 storm, the strongest in more than two decades, WOWT reported that the aurora was easily visible away from city lights all over Nebraska and Iowa. There were even reports from within Omaha, mostly in long-exposure photos. Viewers sent pictures from near Cedar Bluffs, Herman, Kennard, Springfield and Palmyra, from southwest of Papillion and from Lewis and Clark Lake.

Tips for Nebraska

  • Use the open horizon. Flat prairie and Sandhills give unbroken views when the aurora stays low.
  • Head west. Nebraska Game and Parks notes that light-pollution maps show the state brightly lit east of Columbus and Norfolk, while the Sandhills stay dark.
  • Use your camera. A long exposure shows pink and green that your eyes may read as a gray cloud.
  • Look near midnight. NOAA says activity usually peaks within an hour or two of midnight.
  • Favor the equinox months. NOAA says bigger storms tend to come near the spring and fall equinoxes. In Interior Alaska, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute puts the odds of aurora at about twice as high at the equinoxes as at the solstices.

Local resources

Browse certified dark-sky places and read how to see the northern lights. Neighbors: South Dakota and Kansas.

Dark-sky places near Omaha

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

Questions and answers

Can you see the northern lights in Omaha or Lincoln?

During strong storms, sometimes. In May 2024 WOWT reported aurora visible even within Omaha city limits, especially in long-exposure photos. Darker spots outside town gave far better views.

Why is Merritt Reservoir so dark?

It lies in the Sandhills southwest of Valentine, far from any city. In 2022 it became the first place in Nebraska certified as an International Dark Sky Park, and it has hosted the Nebraska Star Party each July since the 1990s.

What is the best time of year in Nebraska?

Activity tends to rise near the March and September equinoxes. Fall and winter add long nights.

Other states

Sources