New York: Northern Lights Tonight, City by City
Aurora season in New York runs from October to March.
New York tonight
Moderate
Best aurora chance tonight, New York: Moderate. Best place: Buffalo, 12:00 AM–2:00 AM.
Aurora Forecast AI Tracker
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Track the aurora forecast for New York with hourly visibility, cloud cover and geomagnetic activity. Save nearby viewing spots, check the best time to look for the Northern Lights, and receive alerts when local conditions improve.
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New York in numbers
- Cities on this site
- 3
- Latitude
- 40.7°–42.9°
- Geomagnetic latitude
- 48.9°–51.7°
- Min Kp
- 5–6
- Aurora zone
- Mid-latitude
Best Months to See the Northern Lights in New York
The aurora season in New York usually runs from October to March.
Where the odds are best in New York
| Place | Aurora zone | Min Kp | Geomagnetic latitude | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸BuffaloNew York | Mid-latitude | 5 | 51.7° | September to April |
| 🇺🇸AlbanyNew York | Mid-latitude | 6 | 50.7° | September to April |
| 🇺🇸New York | Mid-latitude | 6 | 48.9° | September to April |
Other regions in United States
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see the Northern Lights in New York tonight?
New York: it depends on where you are and on tonight's sky. Buffalo needs about Kp 5; New York needs about Kp 6. On top of that it takes a clear, dark sky — cloud blocks aurora at any Kp. The table at the top of this page has tonight's forecast city by city.
What Kp index is needed to see the Northern Lights in New York?
New York has no single number. The higher the Kp, the further from the pole the auroral oval reaches, so the threshold rises with distance from the pole: Buffalo needs about Kp 5, New York about Kp 6. Each city's page gives its own threshold.
What are the best months to see the Northern Lights in New York?
October to March, with December to February the darkest stretch — though at this latitude the season is set by how often a storm reaches you, not by daylight.
Where is the best place to see the Northern Lights in New York?
New York: of the places in this list, Buffalo needs the least — about Kp 5 — while New York needs about Kp 6. Wherever you are, a dark sky away from city lights matters more than the exact spot.