High Chance Of Northern Lights Reappearing In NJ Thursday: See Timing

NORTH JERSEY, NJ — If you weren't among the skywatchers and photographers who saw the Northern Lights in the sky in the wee hours of Tuesday morning this week, you may have an even better chance Thursday and Friday.

UPDATE: The Northern Lights appeared around New Jersey Thursday night, and are likely to reappear. Read more and see residents' photos HERE.

The colorful display of lights, also called aurora borealis, has been appearing to the naked eye in Canada and northern parts of the U.S. this year because the sun is at the peak of an 11-year cycle.

During this "solar maximum," heightened geomagnetic storming increases the chances of seeing the aurora south of its usual Arctic range.

With more people on social media than back in 2013, and more reading news sites like Patch and using apps such as Aurora, the word has been spreading rapidly about the brilliant displays, which some wait all their lives to see.

'Extreme' Levels Possible Thursday

While residents in several North Jersey towns posted photos in a New Jersey Astonomy Group on Facebook on Monday into Tuesday, others may get a chance to see the display later.

The National Weather Service predicts that "severe" solar storm activity could cause the Northern Lights to be seen late Thursday into Friday. The Kp index could reach as high as 8.33 after sundown Thursday into the early hours of Friday.

"The greatest observed 3 hr Kp over the past 24 hours was 5 (NOAA Scale G1)," the NWS said. "The greatest expected 3 hr Kp for Oct 10-Oct 12 2024 is 8.33 (NOAA Scale G4)."

When To Look

The sun will set in North Jersey around 6:23 p.m. Thursday. Current predictions are that the Kp will be highest starting around 11 p.m. The most impactful displays have recently taken place between midnight and 1 a.m.

One forecaster in Upstate New York said the expected situation on Thursday has been "pretty rare" and that some areas that can't see the lights with the naked eye may be able to do so with their camera. Photographers have suggested slowing the shutter speed to capture the lights.

See viewing forecasts here.

The auroral strength is measured by the Kp index, according to the Space Weather Prediction Center. In general, the chances of seeing the lights
are best with a Kp index of at least 5, The Washington Post wrote in a story about aurora borealis tourism.

Chances of seeing Northern Lights generally increase around the fall equinox, when the sun produces a surplus of geomagnetic storms — almost twice the annual average — but this fall and the coming year should be especially spectacular as Solar Cycle 25 reaches its peak, which NOAA predicts will occur from November through March 2026.

RELATED: Northern Lights Seen In Multiple NJ Towns Overnight

Patch Editor Michele Rotuno-Johnson contributed to this story.