Tonight in Philadelphia: Aurora is unlikely in Philadelphia right now. The sky is not dark enough yet. AuroraMe watches Kp, clouds and darkness for this location and sends a free alert when the next viewing window opens.
aurora visibility now
Unlikely
Wait for darkness
Kp now 3.3 need 8+
Clouds 0% Clear
Sky Daylight visibility
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com Licensed under CC BY 4.0. Modified by AuroraMe: location snapped to a privacy-preserving 0.25° grid and values rounded for display.
Get a 72-hour aurora forecast and free alerts for Philadelphia AuroraMe tracks Kp, clouds and darkness for Philadelphia, then sends a free push when the next viewing window opens.
Forecast
Scan the next hours here. The free app watches the longer window and sends alerts when conditions improve.
Time
Kp
Visibility
28.08, Today
17:00
5.7
Unlikely
29.08, Tomorrow
18:00
5.7
Unlikely
19:00
5.7
Unlikely
20:00
5.7
Unlikely
21:00
5.7
Unlikely
22:00
5.7
Unlikely
Kp Index: 27-Day Forecast
Predicted geomagnetic activity based on solar rotation cycle.
...
aurora nights per year
Kp ≥ 8 · 11 years of data
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
#1
Sep Loading data...
Planning a trip? Find the best month and how many nights to stay
📅 All 12 months ranked 🛏️ Min nights for 80% chance 🔔 Push alert 1h before aurora 🌙 72h hour-by-hour forecast
Why this forecast?
Aurora Zone
Higher magnetic latitude = better aurora visibility. Your location's magnetic latitude determines how often auroras appear overhead.
Status Levels:
Perfect Above 62.0° - Excellent aurora visibility (daily activity)
Good 56.0° - 62.0° - Good aurora visibility (regular storms)
Acceptable 50.0° - 56.0° - Fair aurora visibility (strong storms only)
Low Below 50.0° - Poor aurora visibility (extreme storms)
Aurora Zone
Low 48.4°
Kp index
Kp measures global magnetic disturbance. Higher Kp = stronger auroras visible at lower latitudes.
Status Levels:
Storm Kp 6-9 - Geomagnetic storm, strong auroras
Good Kp 3-6 - Moderate activity, good conditions
Low Kp 1-3 - Low activity, weak auroras
Very Quiet Kp 0-1 - Very quiet, minimal auroras
Kp index
Good 3.3
Cloud Cover Impact
Clear skies are essential for aurora viewing. Clouds block your view of the northern lights. The percentage shows cloud coverage (0% = clear skies, 100% = overcast).
Status Levels:
Clear Clear (0-25%) - Perfect for aurora viewing
Partly Cloudy Partly Cloudy (26-50%) - May partially block view
Cloudy Cloudy (51-85%) - Significantly blocks aurora
Overcast Overcast (85%+) - Blocks aurora completely
Cloud Cover Impact
☀️ Clear 0%
Moonlight
Bright moonlight can wash out faint auroras. New moon provides the darkest skies for optimal viewing.
Status Levels:
New Moon Darkest skies - Best for faint auroras
Crescent Dim moonlight - Good for viewing
Quarter Moderate moonlight - May wash out weak auroras
Gibbous Bright moonlight - Reduces aurora visibility
Full Moon Very bright - Only strong auroras visible
Moonlight
🌕 Full Moon 98%
Darkness
Darker skies are essential for aurora viewing. The sun must be below the horizon for auroras to be visible.
Status Levels:
Night Darkest conditions - Optimal for auroras
Astronomical Twilight Dark enough - Good aurora viewing
Nautical Twilight Getting darker - Weak auroras may appear
Daylight Sun is above horizon - No aurora visible
Darkness
Daylight
Get Alerted Before Aurora Appears
Push alerts 20–90 min before northern lights. 72h forecast, cloud cover, 11 years of historical data.
Smart Alerts before spikes
Short-term outlook for the next few days
Multiple locations
Trip Planner: Best Days & Best Month
Aurora is Rare in Philadelphia — But Not Impossible
Kp 8+ needed to see aurora here
0 possible aurora nights in the next 27 days
Sep, Oct, Mar, Apr best months to visit
Aurora Borealis Viewing in Philadelphia
Major city with 2M+ population.
Philadelphia sits at 48.4° magnetic latitude, which means aurora typically becomes visible when the Kp index reaches 8+. Aurora sightings in Philadelphia require stronger geomagnetic storms (Kp 8+), which occur a few times per year. When storms do hit, the best viewing window is 10 PM to 2 AM local time under clear, dark skies.
Cloud cover is the most common reason people miss aurora even during strong storms. AuroraMe combines the Kp index with real-time cloud forecasts, moon phase, and darkness data to give you a single visibility status — so you know whether it's worth going outside tonight.
For the broader storm picture before checking Philadelphia, start with the broader forecast hub and the geomagnetic storm tracker. Low-latitude places like Philadelphia usually need a severe geomagnetic storm, clear northern horizon, and full darkness before northern lights become realistic.
Other cities in United States
New York
Big Apple aurora sightings during extreme geomagnetic storms
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
Albany
New York capital with Hudson Valley aurora viewing and Adirondack access
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
Richmond
Virginia capital with Blue Ridge Mountain aurora viewing during strong storms
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
Virginia Beach
Atlantic coast resort city with ocean-horizon aurora displays
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
Boston
Historic city with occasional northern lights visible during strong activity
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
Buffalo
Great Lakes city with enhanced aurora viewing over Lake Erie and Niagara
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
Planning a trip? See the best months for Philadelphia → • Northern lights tonight — all cities →
Learn More About the Northern Lights
Northern Lights in Philadelphia: Quick Guide
Minimum Kp Needed
8.0+
Viewing Frequency
very rare
Current Kp Index
3.3
How often can you see northern lights in Philadelphia?
Based on its magnetic latitude of <strong>48.4°</strong>, aurora viewing in Philadelphia is <strong>very rare (1-5 nights per year during major storms)</strong>. We are currently near solar maximum (2024-2025), so expect higher-than-average activity.
Best viewing season: September to March, with peak activity during equinoxes (September and March).
What Kp index do I need to see aurora in Philadelphia?
For Philadelphia, you need a minimum Kp index of <strong>8.0</strong> for aurora to be visible. This threshold is calculated based on the city's magnetic latitude (48.4°).
Higher Kp values produce brighter, more active displays:
- Kp 8.0-9.0: Faint aurora visible in dark skies
- Kp 9.0+: Strong, colorful displays visible even with some light pollution
Current Kp index: 3.3
Where should I look for aurora in Philadelphia?
Aurora is rarely visible this far south. When it does appear during extreme storms (Kp 7+), look for a faint glow on the northern horizon.
For best results, seek locations with minimal light pollution and unobstructed views of the sky. From Philadelphia, aurora typically remains closer to the horizon, so elevated viewing locations help.
Can I see northern lights tonight in Philadelphia?
Unlikely: Aurora unlikely tonight with Kp 3.3 (below 8.0 threshold for Philadelphia). Enable alerts to catch future opportunities.
Real-time conditions: 0% cloud cover, Aurora Score 0/100. Check the live forecast above for the latest updates.
Traveling? Track multiple locations easily
Compare aurora chances across cities and get alerts for all your planned destinations.
For brighter shows consider Fairbanks , Yellowknife