Pennsylvania: Northern Lights Tonight, City by City
Aurora season in Pennsylvania runs from September to April.
Pennsylvania tonight
Low
Aurora chance tonight, Pennsylvania overall: Low. Best place: Erie, 1:00 AM–3:00 AM. Clouds are the limit there: about 80% cover tonight.
| Place | Aurora Score | Best viewing window | Cloud cover | Min Kp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erie | 40Low | 1:00 AM–3:00 AM | 80% | 5 |
| Philadelphia | 36Low | 3:00 AM–5:00 AM | 34% | 6 |
| Allentown | 31Low | 11:00 PM–1:00 AM | 59% | 6 |
| Pittsburgh | 30Low | 11:00 PM–1:00 AM | 64% | 6 |
Aurora Forecast AI Tracker
Get aurora alerts for Pennsylvania
Track the aurora forecast for Pennsylvania 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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Pennsylvania in numbers
- Cities on this site
- 4
- Latitude
- 40.0°–42.1°
- Geomagnetic latitude
- 48.4°–51.1°
- Min Kp
- 5–6
- Aurora zone
- Mid-latitude
Best Months to See the Northern Lights in Pennsylvania
The aurora season in Pennsylvania usually runs from September to April.
Where the odds are best in Pennsylvania
| Place | Aurora zone | Min Kp | Geomagnetic latitude | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸EriePennsylvania | Mid-latitude | 5 | 51.1° | September to April |
| 🇺🇸PittsburghPennsylvania | Mid-latitude | 6 | 49.5° | September to April |
| 🇺🇸AllentownPennsylvania | Mid-latitude | 6 | 49.0° | September to April |
| 🇺🇸PhiladelphiaPennsylvania | Mid-latitude | 6 | 48.4° | September to April |
Other regions in United States
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see the Northern Lights in Pennsylvania tonight?
Pennsylvania: it depends on where you are and on tonight's sky. Erie needs about Kp 5; Philadelphia 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania 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: Erie needs about Kp 5, Philadelphia about Kp 6. Each city's page gives its own threshold.
What are the best months to see the Northern Lights in Pennsylvania?
September to April, with December to March 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania: of the places in this list, Erie needs the least — about Kp 5 — while Philadelphia needs about Kp 6. Wherever you are, a dark sky away from city lights matters more than the exact spot.