Pittsburgh, PA – Residents across Western Pennsylvania, including Pittsburgh, will have the chance to witness the Northern Lights tonight and Friday, as a powerful G4 geomagnetic storm reaches Earth. Alongside this rare event, a Freeze Watch is in effect, with temperatures expected to drop below freezing early Friday morning.
The National Weather Service forecasts mostly clear skies tonight in Pittsburgh, with lows around 40 degrees, while rural areas may see temperatures dip into the mid-30s. A Freeze Watch is in place from 2 a.m. to 9 a.m. Friday, with freezing temperatures likely in areas outside the city, threatening sensitive plants and crops.
The best viewing time for the Northern Lights will be between 10 p.m. Thursday and 4 a.m. Friday. The storm, caused by solar winds interacting with Earth’s magnetic field, could produce not only the typical green auroras but also the rarest color—purple. Purple auroras occur when the display is over 100 km above the Earth.
Friday night will provide another chance to view the aurora, with clear skies forecast and lows in the mid-30s again. Residents should plan to bundle up as frost and freezing conditions are expected through Friday morning.
