Cities Covered
3
Monitoring locations across New York
Magnetic Latitude Range
48.9°–51.7° MLAT
Prime aurora viewing latitudes
Required Kp Index
Kp 7.0–8.0
Minimum activity for visibility
Unlikely
Best chance in New York tonight: Buffalo
AuroraMe watches Kp, clouds and darkness windows so you know when to go outside.
Kp Requirements by Location
Buffalo
51.7° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 7.0+ Horizon
Kp 8.0+ Optimal
Kp 9.0+ Bright
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Albany
50.8° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 8.0+ Horizon
Kp 9.0+ Optimal
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
New York
48.9° MLAT
Required Kp Levels
Kp 8.0+ Horizon
Kp 9.0+ Optimal
Kp0Kp1Kp2Kp3Kp4Kp5Kp6Kp7Kp8Kp9
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Visible on horizon
Clearly visible
Bright overhead
Aurora Status by City
Buffalo
Great Lakes city with enhanced aurora viewing over Lake Erie and Niagara
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
Albany
New York capital with Hudson Valley aurora viewing and Adirondack access
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
New York
Big Apple aurora sightings during extreme geomagnetic storms
CURRENT STATUS
Unlikely
View
Best Viewing Season in New York
Geographic Advantages
Magnetic Latitude 48.9°–51.7° MLAT
Cities Covered 3 locations
Mean astronomical darkness at Albany, Dec–Feb 10.3–11.5 hours
Dark Sky Sites 0 Bortle 1-3
Peak Aurora Months
Estimates for Albany
September 0.16 clear nights, 51.1% cloud
October 0.15 clear nights, 64.1% cloud
November 0.11 clear nights, 66.5% cloud
Track with AuroraMe
Coverage All 3 cities
Advance Notice 30 minutes
Weather Integration Cloud cover
Predictions Best viewing times
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see the northern lights in New York?
Yes, New York offers aurora viewing opportunities. Cities like Buffalo (MLAT 51.7°) can see aurora at Kp 7.0+, while southern locations need Kp 8.0+. Best viewing is September–April during dark, clear nights.
Where are the darkest skies in New York?
Check our city pages for specific dark sky recommendations near each location.
Learn More About the Northern Lights
Use the aurora borealis forecast, check northern lights tonight, or open the live aurora map and Kp tracker.
