Northern lights in South Carolina: can you see them, and tonight's chances

How strong a storm each city in South Carolina 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 South Carolina the level ranges from Kp 8.2 (G4) in Rock Hill to Kp 8.6 (G4) in Charleston.

City	Geomagnetic latitude	Aurora usually needs
Rock Hill	44°	Kp 8.2 (G4)
Greenville	43.8°	Kp 8.2 (G4)
Columbia	43.1°	Kp 8.4 (G4)
Florence	43.2°	Kp 8.4 (G4)
Myrtle Beach	42.8°	Kp 8.4 (G4)
Charleston	41.9°	Kp 8.6 (G4)

How these levels are worked out: our methods.

Can you see the northern lights in South Carolina?

Only during the biggest storms. NOAA’s scale says severe storms have reached Alabama and extreme storms Florida, and South Carolina sits between the two. Most of the state needs an extreme storm, which comes only a few times per 11-year solar cycle. The Upstate may need only a severe one, which comes on about 60 days per cycle. The table above compares tonight’s forecast with each city’s level.

What May 2024 showed

WIS News 10 called the May 10–11, 2024 storm the strongest to reach Earth since 2003. It reported that central South Carolina was covered in purple, pink and green auroras that Friday night, after a line of thunderstorms passed. NASA says auroras reached the southern US, with reports down to about 26 degrees magnetic latitude.

Where to look

South Carolina has no place certified by DarkSky International. For the best chance, drive well away from the cities to a rural spot with an open, flat view to the north, such as a field or a lakeshore. The north of the state is a little better placed than the coast.

Tips

Use your camera. NOAA notes that a dim aurora looks pale to the eye and shows color on a camera. In May 2024 WIS’s chief meteorologist advised letting your eyes adjust and taking photos with your phone’s night setting.
Look low in the north. At this latitude the aurora seldom rises far above the horizon.
Check the clouds. In May 2024 the thunderstorms cleared just in time. A clear sky matters as much as the forecast.

Read how to see the northern lights and check the moon phase. Neighbors: North Carolina and Georgia.

Dark-sky places near Charleston

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): 197 miles SW of Charleston.

Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (International Dark Sky Park, 2020): 233 miles NW of Charleston.

Cape Lookout National Seashore (International Dark Sky Park, 2021): 234 miles NE of Charleston.

Mayland Earth to Sky Park & Bare Dark Sky Observatory (International Dark Sky Park, 2014): 249 miles NW of Charleston.

Staunton River State Park (International Dark Sky Park, 2015): 277 miles N of Charleston.

Questions and answers

Where should I go in South Carolina to look?

Head away from Columbia, Charleston and Greenville to a rural spot with a clear view north, such as an open field or a lakeshore facing north.

Can you see the northern lights in the Upstate mountains?

The Upstate is the most northerly part of the state and may need only a severe storm rather than an extreme one. Ridges can block the low northern sky, so pick a spot with an open view north.

Will South Carolina see the aurora again?

Yes, but rarely. NOAA says big storms are more common in the years around the peak of the 11-year solar cycle, and it can usually forecast a storm about a day ahead.

Northern lights in South Carolina

Tonight's northern lights forecast