Northern Lights Tonight in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania sees aurora in moderate to strong storms: the Lake Erie shore needs about Kp 5.4, Philadelphia in the southeast closer to Kp 6.0. Tonight's peak Kp is 3.7 (active): aurora is unlikely anywhere in Pennsylvania.
Best chance in Pennsylvania tonight
UnlikelyErie: unlikely, peak Kp 3.7 against Kp 5.4 needed, clouds 87%.
Kp requirements by location
1Erie
| On the horizon | Kp 5.4 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 6.4 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 7.4 |
Kp now 2.0: 3.4 short of the horizon
2Coudersport
| On the horizon | Kp 5.6 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 6.6 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 7.6 |
Kp now 2.0: 3.6 short of the horizon
3Scranton
| On the horizon | Kp 5.7 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 6.7 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 7.7 |
Kp now 2.0: 3.7 short of the horizon
4Pittsburgh
| On the horizon | Kp 5.8 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 6.8 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 7.8 |
Kp now 2.0: 3.8 short of the horizon
5Philadelphia
| On the horizon | Kp 6.0 |
| Clearly visible | Kp 7.0 |
| Bright, overhead | Kp 8.0 |
Kp now 2.0: 4.0 short of the horizon
Best dark sky viewing locations
Cherry Springs State Park
International Dark Sky Park (DarkSky International)
A high, open field on the Allegheny Plateau in Potter County, known for some of the darkest skies in the eastern US. The northern horizon is clear.
Paved PA-44 to the park; the night-sky viewing field is open at night.
Presque Isle State Park
A sandy peninsula that curves into Lake Erie. Beaches on the lake side look north over open water, with Erie lighting behind you to the south.
Paved Peninsula Drive from Erie; check the park for night hours.
Ricketts Glen State Park
A large forested park on the Allegheny Front in northeastern Pennsylvania, well away from the Wilkes-Barre and Scranton glow. Open ground near Lake Jean is the best bet.
Paved state routes and park roads; Lake Jean has a lakeside lot.
Aurora status by city
Erie
Coudersport
Scranton
Pittsburgh
Philadelphia
What time to look tonight in Pennsylvania
Best window tonight: 12 AM – 2 AM EST at Erie. Look north, low on the horizon; the hours around local midnight are usually the most active.
Best viewing season in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's best aurora window is late autumn to early spring, when darkness lasts 12 hours or more. Cold fronts bring clear, crisp nights; the strongest storms still need luck with timing. The north tier is the better bet, and the plateau counties of Potter, Tioga and McKean combine altitude with very little light.
The Lake Erie shore gives the clearest northern horizon, though lake-effect cloud and snow often hang over Erie and the Snowbelt in winter. Pittsburgh and Philadelphia sit under large light domes, so you need to leave the metro areas and look north from a ridge, reservoir or lakeshore.
Peak aurora months
At Erie, Kp most often reaches the threshold on dark nights in March, May and September.
GFZ Potsdam Kp since 2015; clouds not counted.
Pennsylvania northern lights FAQ
Can you see the northern lights in Pennsylvania?
Can I see the northern lights in Pennsylvania tonight?
Where are the darkest skies in Pennsylvania?
What Kp do I need to see the northern lights in Pennsylvania?
Free app for iPhone and Android
Track aurora across Pennsylvania
The forecast on this page, watching your location all night and telling you when to step outside.
The hour tonight when Kp, clouds and darkness line up for your spot.
A push alert 30–90 minutes before the aurora reaches your sky, even at 2 AM.
Where the clouds open nearby, so you know which way to drive.
Explore more
Learn more about the northern lights
How to See the Northern Lights: A Beginner's Guide
Three conditions decide whether you see the northern lights: activity at your latitude, a clear sky and darkness. Here is how to check each one.
Aurora Colors and What They Mean
Green, red, blue, purple and pink aurora explained: which gas makes each color, how high it glows, and why your camera shows more than your eyes.
Northern Lights in Canada: Best Places
The best places to see the northern lights in Canada: Yellowknife, Whitehorse, Churchill, Jasper and the prairies, plus what Ontario and Quebec get.
Northern Lights in Scotland
Where to see the northern lights in Scotland: north coast, islands, Cairngorms and dark sky parks, when the sky is dark enough, and how to beat cloud.
Northern Lights in Norway
Where to see the northern lights in Norway, which months work, why the coast and inland need different plans, and what Oslo gets in a storm.
Aurora Australis Forecast Guide
How to read a forecast for the southern lights: Kp, Bz, the southern oval, darkness, moon and cloud, plus where to look in Tasmania and southern Australia.
Kp index today
Live Kp, the 3-day and 27-day forecast, and what Kp each city needs.
Geomagnetic storm today
G-scale now, the storm outlook and how far south the aurora reaches.