Can you see the northern lights in New York?
Yes, on active nights. In Plattsburgh you need a Kp of about 6.2; in New York City, about 7.0. Seeing the aurora from southern New York is G3 (Strong) territory on NOAA's storm scale, and NOAA counts about 130 days per 11-year solar cycle at that level. Our table below also marks a city "possible" when the forecast is within one Kp of what it needs — the aurora may show low on the northern horizon, and phone cameras often pick it up before your eyes do. Source: NOAA Space Weather Scales.
Northern lights tonight in New York
Tonight (Thu Oct 8, 2026): forecast peak Kp 5.7 in New York.
| City | Kp needed | Tonight's peak | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plattsburgh, NY | 6.2 | 5.7 | Possible, low on the horizon |
| Buffalo, NY | 6.6 | 5.7 | Possible, low on the horizon |
| Albany, NY | 6.6 | 5.7 | Possible, low on the horizon |
| New York City, NY | 7.0 | 5.7 | Unlikely |
Space weather data from NOAA, updated . Refreshed every 5 minutes.
Kp needed comes from the NOAA Space Weather Scales, which give latitudes for Kp 6–9. Values for places north of about 55° geomagnetic latitude (including Alaska) are our extrapolation. NOAA notes that even at Kp 0 the edge of the auroral oval sits near 66° geomagnetic latitude, so interior Alaska can see aurora on quiet nights. How we calculate this.
Check your exact location: enter your ZIP code · get aurora alerts for New York
Where to see the northern lights in New York
- Adirondack Sky Center & Observatory (Tupper Lake) (Franklin County, Tupper Lake). Tupper Lake promotes its low light pollution, and the observatory near Little Wolf Beach holds free volunteer-led public stargazing on Friday nights, weather permitting. It isn't a certified dark sky place. Source
- Higley Flow State Park (St. Lawrence County, near Colton). Visit Adirondacks names it as a place for dark-sky viewing and says much of the Adirondacks rates Bortle Class 2. It is not a DarkSky-certified place. Source
- Golden Hill State Park (Niagara County, Barker). Sits on the south shore of Lake Ontario, so the water lies to the north and gives an open view in that direction. Day-use areas close at sunset, so overnight access is for registered campers in season (mid-May to mid-October) or the 24-hour boat launch. Source
New to aurora watching? See what Kp means and when to look.
Good to know
- The aurora was seen across Long Island on November 11, 2025, from Montauk to Oyster Bay; NOAA's forecast for the following night put the best odds at the state's northern tip. Source
- As of July 2025 the Adirondack Sky Center in Tupper Lake was seeking an International Dark Sky designation, starting with Tupper Lake and aiming to cover the Adirondack Park. We couldn't verify any DarkSky-certified place in New York. Source