Harrisburg, Pennsylvania – A rare G4 (Severe) geomagnetic storm is creating conditions that could allow the Northern Lights to be visible tonight across parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, according to the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center.
NOAA’s latest aurora forecast shows the auroral oval expanding unusually far south, placing northern and central Pennsylvania, as well as northern New Jersey, within range of potential aurora visibility. Forecast models indicate a Kp index near 7 to 8, a level that can bring auroras into the Mid-Atlantic during strong solar storms.
The aurora is being driven by a coronal mass ejection from the Sun that is currently interacting with Earth’s magnetic field. When charged solar particles collide with gases in the upper atmosphere, they create the glowing green, red, and sometimes purple light displays known as the Northern Lights.
For viewers in northern Pennsylvania, auroras could appear as a noticeable glow or faint bands in the northern sky. Farther south, including central Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey, the lights are more likely to appear as a subtle green or reddish glow low on the northern horizon, and may be difficult to see near city lights.
The best viewing window is expected late tonight through the early morning hours, generally between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., weather and cloud cover permitting. Observers are advised to seek dark locations away from urban lighting, with a clear view toward the north.
Auroras pose no risk to people on the ground, though the same geomagnetic storm is prompting monitoring of power grids, satellites, and GPS systems.
Visibility may fluctuate overnight as geomagnetic conditions change.
