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Northern lights New Hampshire tonight

Northern New Hampshire sits at ~55°N magnetic latitude and needs Kp 5. Coos County near the Quebec border holds the Connecticut Lakes - Bortle 2 sky at 45°N with north-facing open water. Lake Umbagog near Errol gives a flat water horizon at Bortle 2-3. New Hampshire has the darkest skies in New England south of Maine. Best season: September to April.

Aurora visibility — New Hampshire

Unlikely tonight

Kp 1 is well below the Kp 5 threshold needed for aurora to be visible from New Hampshire.

Current Kp

1

of 9

Threshold for New Hampshire: Kp 5 Magnetic latitude: ~55°N Updated: 11 May, 23:30 UTC

What Kp is needed here?

New Hampshire sits at a magnetic latitude of approximately 55°N. The Kp index - a global measure of geomagnetic activity on a scale from 0 (quiet) to 9 (extreme storm), updated every 3 hours - needs to reach Kp 5 before the auroral oval expands far enough south to be visible from here.

At Kp 5, visibility is possible from New Hampshire but skies need to be clear and dark. Cloud cover and light pollution remain the main obstacles even when Kp is high enough.

Best dark sky sites near New Hampshire

Light pollution is the biggest obstacle after cloud cover. These sites give you the best dark northern horizon within reach.

North Country (Coos County)

New Hampshire's northernmost county, bordering Quebec and Maine. The towns of Colebrook, Pittsburg, and Dixville Notch sit near 45°N geographic (55°N magnetic) with open farmland and forest facing north toward the Canadian border. The Connecticut Lakes area north of Pittsburg gives genuine wilderness darkness - Bortle 2 at the remoter lake positions. This is the least populated county east of the Mississippi - population density under 5 per square km. The Connecticut Lakes State Forest gives the darkest accessible sky in New Hampshire.

White Mountains (northern section)

The northern Presidential Range and the Franconia Ridge give elevated north-facing positions in central New Hampshire. Mount Washington at 1917 m is the highest peak in the northeast, but aurora viewing from the summit is compromised by frequent cloud cover. The valley positions - Jefferson, Lancaster, and Groveton - give better sky stability with open north-facing fields. The Bretton Woods area faces north toward the Presidentials with limited light pollution from the south. Bortle 3-4 in the valley floors north of the White Mountains.

Lake Umbagog and Errol area

A remote lake straddling the Maine-New Hampshire border near Errol, accessible via NH-16 north of Berlin. The lake gives a north-facing open water horizon with minimal light pollution in all directions. The Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge surrounds the lake. Bortle 2-3 at the lake shore. No significant settlements within 50 km. The Errol area consistently gives some of New Hampshire's best stargazing conditions - the Androscoggin River valley is sheltered from wind and faces north across open water.

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Common questions

Aurora in New Hampshire - Coos County, White Mountains visibility, and Kp thresholds.

Can you see the northern lights in New Hampshire?
Yes, during moderate geomagnetic storms. Northern New Hampshire at ~55°N magnetic latitude needs Kp 5 from dark sites. Coos County near the Quebec border gives the state's best combination of northern position and genuine darkness. Lake Umbagog near Errol gives a north-facing water horizon with Bortle 2-3 sky. The May 2024 G5 storm produced aurora visible across New Hampshire including reports from Manchester and Concord.
What Kp is needed for aurora in New Hampshire?
Kp 5 from dark sites in Coos County and the North Country. Kp 6 for aurora visible from Concord or Manchester. Northern New Hampshire's 55°N magnetic latitude means Kp 5 events are accessible with proper dark sky positioning. The Connecticut Lakes area north of Pittsburg is the premier position - Bortle 2 sky near the Canadian border gives the conditions needed for moderate events.
Where is the best place to see aurora in New Hampshire?
The Connecticut Lakes area north of Pittsburg in Coos County - Bortle 2 sky near the Quebec border with north-facing open positions. Lake Umbagog near Errol is the best accessible option if Pittsburg is too far. The Umbagog shoreline gives a flat water horizon to the north at Bortle 2-3. For White Mountains visitors, the valley north of the Presidential Range near Jefferson and Lancaster gives reasonable darkness without a long drive north.
Can you see aurora from the White Mountains?
During strong events. The White Mountains themselves at 44-45°N geographic (54-55°N magnetic) need Kp 5-6 for visible aurora. The summit of Mount Washington gives the most elevated position but has persistent cloud cover - valley positions north of the range are more reliable. The Presidential Range does give an impressive aurora foreground when conditions align: green curtains above the ridge silhouette with dark valley sky below.
When is aurora season in New Hampshire?
September to April. Coos County autumn (September-October) gives clear nights under stable high pressure with the equinox geomagnetic peak. Winter in the North Country can be extremely cold (-30°C) but cloud-free nights occur under Arctic high-pressure systems. The White Mountains are cloudier in winter than the Connecticut Lakes valley. March combines equinox activity with improving temperatures. Monitor NOAA space weather and the National Weather Service Gray, Maine sky forecast.