Live Aurora Outlook
Northern Lights in Pennsylvania
Tonight's Live Forecast
Pennsylvania needs a Kp index of roughly 7+ for visible aurora. Below is tonight's answer, computed from the live Kp reading — updated hourly, explained calmly.
Can you see the northern lights in Pennsylvania tonight?
Unlikely in Pennsylvania tonight
The Kp index is currently 1, below the roughly Kp 7 that Pennsylvania needs for visible aurora. Watch for geomagnetic storm alerts — when Kp reaches 7+, tonight's answer changes.
Aurora in Pennsylvania
What Pennsylvania Needs for a Display
Pennsylvania needs a strong storm (Kp 7 / G3) for visible aurora, but it holds a genuine ace: Cherry Springs State Park in the northern tier, one of the best certified dark-sky sites on the East Coast, purpose-built for exactly this kind of night. During G3+ events the park's north-facing field regularly produces the state's best aurora photos.
Between the Kp 6 and Kp 8 view lines; the northern tier responds to strong G3 storms. Aurora visibility depends on geomagnetic latitude — which differs from map latitude by up to 15 degrees — so these thresholds come from NOAA SWPC's storm-level view-line estimates, not simple map position. Treat them as odds, not guarantees: at the threshold Kp, expect a glow low on the northern horizon rather than overhead curtains.
Approximate Kp Needed by Location
Based on NOAA SWPC G-scale view-line estimates
Best Viewing Spots in Pennsylvania
When to Look
10 PM – 2 AM local time, centered on midnight. September through March offers the darkest skies. Avoid full-moon nights and city light domes — even 30 minutes of driving makes a real difference.
Don't Refresh This Page All Winter —
get a Kp alert instead
Aurora visibility in Pennsylvania is driven by the Kp index, so a Kp storm alert is effectively an aurora heads-up. The ResonanceOne app sends free push notifications when the Kp index reaches geomagnetic storm level (Kp 5+) — watch for readings of 7+ to match Pennsylvania's threshold.
To be clear: ResonanceOne is not a dedicated aurora app — no aurora map, no location-based visibility forecast. It tracks the underlying signals (Kp index, solar flares, Schumann Resonance) in one calm Activity Index, and alerts you when they spike.
Common Questions
Northern Lights in Pennsylvania: FAQ
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