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Northern lights in Virginia

Rarely, but it happens: Virginia needs a severe or extreme geomagnetic storm. On May 10–11, 2024 the aurora was seen in virtually every part of the state that wasn't under clouds, and it returned in October 2024.

Tonight's northern lights forecast

Loading NOAA's Kp forecast…

How strong a storm each city in Virginia 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 Virginia the level ranges from Kp 7.5 (G4) in Harrisonburg to Kp 7.8 (G4) in Suffolk.

CityGeomagnetic latitudeAurora usually needsTonight
Harrisonburg47.5°Kp 7.5 (G4)
Richmond46.6°Kp 7.7 (G4)
Roanoke46.3°Kp 7.7 (G4)
Lynchburg46.5°Kp 7.7 (G4)
Virginia Beach45.9°Kp 7.8 (G4)
Newport News46.2°Kp 7.8 (G4)
Suffolk45.8°Kp 7.8 (G4)

How these levels are worked out: our methods.

How often you can see the aurora in Virginia

Virginia lies just north of Alabama’s band on NOAA’s scale, where severe storms have brought the aurora. Severe storms come on about 60 days per 11-year solar cycle and extreme ones only a few times per cycle, and they are most common around the peak of the cycle. Northern Virginia has slightly better odds than the south. The table above shows each city’s level against tonight’s forecast.

Where to watch

Virginia has several certified International Dark Sky Parks. For the aurora, choose a spot in one with an open view north:

  • Sky Meadows State Park: in the Blue Ridge foothills of Fauquier County, within reach of Northern Virginia.
  • Rappahannock County Park: a certified dark-sky park in the Piedmont near Shenandoah National Park.
  • Natural Bridge State Park: in the Shenandoah Valley near Lexington.
  • James River and Staunton River state parks: in central and Southside Virginia, away from city lights.

Notable sightings

  • May 10–11, 2024: Cardinal News reported the aurora was seen in virtually all parts of Virginia not blocked by clouds. It called it the first display of that strength over Virginia since October 29, 2003, and noted that smartphone cameras pulled in colors far more intense than the eye saw.
  • October 10–11, 2024: during a severe (G4) storm, Cardinal News published a second round of vivid aurora photos from Southwest and Southside Virginia, including Mecklenburg and Russell counties.
  • December 14, 1862: after the Battle of Fredericksburg, soldiers on both sides described an aurora over the battlefield, as Cardinal News recounts.

Tips for Virginia

  • Use your phone. At Virginia’s latitude the aurora often looks like a pale glow to the eye and pink or green on camera.
  • Find an open north. Blue Ridge and Appalachian ridges block the low sky. Pick a field, lake or overlook facing north.
  • Escape the light domes. Northern Virginia, Richmond and Hampton Roads brighten wide areas.
  • Look near midnight. NOAA says activity usually peaks within an hour or two of midnight, though big storms can start at dusk.

Local resources

Read how to see the northern lights. Neighbors: Maryland, West Virginia and North Carolina.

Dark-sky places near Virginia Beach

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 from Richmond or Northern Virginia?

During the biggest storms, yes, mostly in photos. City lights hide faint displays, so darker rural spots give much better views.

Which Virginia state parks are certified dark-sky parks?

Natural Bridge, Sky Meadows, James River and Staunton River state parks are certified International Dark Sky Parks, as is Rappahannock County Park. Our dark-sky pages show distances from cities in each state.

Has Virginia seen the aurora before 2024?

Yes. Cardinal News notes a display of similar strength on October 29, 2003, and soldiers described an aurora over the battlefield after the Battle of Fredericksburg on December 14, 1862.

Other states

Sources