An incoming geomagnetic storm may make it possible to see the northern lights in New York tonight — here’s everything you need to know to spot the aurora borealis
Of all of the things that are in an everyday New Yorker’s vocabulary, ‘geomagnetic storm’ likely isn’t among the most common. Tonight, however, you may want to make yourself more acquainted with the phrase, and don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
The Space Weather Forecast
According to Space.com, a coronal mass ejection (CME) is currently interacting with Earth’s magnetic field.
- The Storm Strength: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center has forecast a G2 (Moderate) to G3 (Strong) geomagnetic storm.
- The View-Line: Under NOAA’s geomagnetic storm scale, a G2 storm pushes the aurora visibility line far enough south to include New York state, while a G3 storm pushes it even further south into Illinois and Oregon.
And thanks to this phenomenon, New Yorkers have another chance of catching the aurora borealis tonight. But it is highly dependent on timing and where you are in the state. The two biggest questions for any local aurora hunter are exactly when to step outside and where to point your eyes.
When Will the Northern Lights Be Visible in NY Tonight?
According to space weather tracking from Space.com and TravelPirates, the absolute best viewing window across New York will be between 10:00 PM tonight and 2:00 AM EDT early Tuesday morning.
While the geomagnetic storm actually peaked during the daytime hours, solar activity is expected to remain high enough to trigger visible auroras as soon as complete darkness falls.
Because summer nights are relatively short, you want to wait until the sky is completely pitch-black—roughly an hour or two after sunset—before trying your luck.
Where Is the Best Place to Catch Them?
To actually see the colors, you need two things: a clear view of the northern horizon and zero city lights. Because the aurora line will be hovering right over mid-latitudes, the lights won’t be directly overhead; they will appear as a low glow or dancing ribbons in the northern sky.
The best regional hotspots in New York include:
- The Adirondack Mountains (Upstate): This is your best bet in the entire state. Places like Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, or Tupper Lake have designated dark-sky viewing areas with almost no light pollution and wide-open northern horizons.
- The Catskills & Hudson Valley (Mid-State): If you are closer to southern NY, heading up into the Catskill Park or finding an elevated, open overlook along the Hudson River will give you a fighting chance away from the metro glare.
- Lake Ontario & Lake Erie Shorelines (Western/Central NY): Standing on the southern shores of the Great Lakes and looking north across the water is an aurora chaser’s dream—there are no trees, buildings, or city lights blocking your view toward Canada.
As for those of us in our favorite city, our chances are lower due to typical factors like light pollution and expected cloud cover. If you can’t travel upstate, your best shot is to head to the North Shore of Long Island (like Sunken Meadow State Park) or a dark beach, look directly north across the water, and let your phone’s camera do the work.
Before you head out, you can double-check the real-time movement of the aurora tracking map on the NOAA Aurora 30-Minute Forecast.
