The aurora borealis was visible over the Lehigh Valley Tuesday night, and NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center places much of Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey at or north of the view line for another possible display Wednesday night. Several coronal mass ejections recently struck Earth — with a third, possibly stronger one expected — prompting a severe geomagnetic storm alert and delays to a Blue Origin launch. Solar activity is near the peak of its 11-year cycle, increasing both the chances of colorful skies and risks to GPS, radio and power systems; check SWPC forecasts and pick a dark, warm viewing spot.
Northern Lights Returned to Lehigh Valley — Could They Be Visible Again Tonight?
The aurora borealis was visible over the Lehigh Valley Tuesday night, and NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center places much of Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey at or north of the view line for another possible display Wednesday night. Several coronal mass ejections recently struck Earth — with a third, possibly stronger one expected — prompting a severe geomagnetic storm alert and delays to a Blue Origin launch. Solar activity is near the peak of its 11-year cycle, increasing both the chances of colorful skies and risks to GPS, radio and power systems; check SWPC forecasts and pick a dark, warm viewing spot.
04:14 AM, 11/13/2025Science
Northern lights returned to the Lehigh Valley; a repeat show may be possible tonight
The aurora borealis lit up skies over the Lehigh Valley on Tuesday night, drawing residents outdoors into the cold for a chance to see the colorful display. Forecasters at NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) say most of Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey lie at or north of the SWPC’s “view line,” meaning there’s a possibility of another visible aurora on Wednesday night.
Weather and viewing conditions: The National Weather Service predicts mostly cloudy skies for the Lehigh Valley Wednesday night, with lows in the mid-30s and a breezy west wind. A few clouds won’t necessarily obscure the show, but dress warmly and choose a dark, open spot away from city lights for the best chance to see the glow.
What’s causing the lights: Space weather forecasters confirmed several recent solar eruptions — coronal mass ejections (CMEs) — reached severe levels. Two CMEs have already impacted Earth, and at least one more was expected to arrive, possibly the most energetic of the series. How bright the auroras become and how far south they are visible depends on the timing of the CME and how it interacts with Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere.
These storms have already produced vivid auroras in unexpected regions of Europe, including Hungary and the United Kingdom, and in the United States as far south as Kansas, Colorado and Texas. NOAA meteorologist Shawn Dahl said in a video posted on X that the disturbances produced some impacts to GPS communications and parts of the power grid.
Operational impacts: The surge in solar activity prompted NASA to postpone the planned launch of a Blue Origin rocket carrying Mars orbiters until space-weather conditions improve. Severe geomagnetic storms can temporarily disrupt power systems, scramble GPS and radio communications, and affect satellites and aviation systems.
Why now: The sun is approaching the maximum phase of its roughly 11-year activity cycle, when eruptions and geomagnetic storms become more common. That increases the frequency and geographic reach of auroral displays for the coming months.
Historical context: Intense solar storms have produced dramatic effects in the past — the 1859 Carrington Event sparked auroras as far south as Hawaii and damaged telegraph systems, and a powerful 1972 storm is believed to have detonated magnetic sea mines near Vietnam.
How to follow and where to watch: Check NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center for up-to-date aurora forecasts and alerts. For the best viewing, pick a dark location away from artificial lights (local or national parks are ideal), check cloud cover in advance, and give your eyes at least 10–20 minutes to adapt to the dark. Even if the aurora is faint to the eye, a smartphone or camera set to long exposure can sometimes reveal colors and structures that are hard to see unaided.
The Associated Press and supervising reporter Kurt Bresswein contributed to this report.