Erie, Pennsylvania – A rare burst of solar activity could light up the night sky across northern Pennsylvania within hours, giving residents a chance to see the northern lights late Sunday.
According to the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, a G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storm is expected to peak between 10 p.m. Sunday and 2 a.m. Monday. The storm is being driven by lingering solar eruption energy combined with a high-speed solar wind stream, pushing aurora visibility farther south into the Upper Ohio Valley and Great Lakes region.
The best viewing conditions will be across northern Pennsylvania, especially in Erie, Bradford, and areas north of Interstate 80. Cities like Erie and Scranton could catch glimpses of green and pink light bands low on the northern horizon, particularly in darker, rural locations away from city lights.
Motorists along I-90 and I-79 may notice brighter skies overnight, though no travel impacts are expected. For optimal viewing, residents should head to open areas, face north, and allow at least 20 minutes for their eyes to adjust.
Cloud cover could limit visibility at times, but breaks may develop overnight. Elevated geomagnetic activity may continue into early Monday, with further updates possible if conditions intensify.
