Kerrie Joyce 
Some New Jerseyans have reported seeing the northern lights shining over the Garden State last night, November 11th, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports that they may be visible again tonight. The northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis, are typically only visible in proximity to the North Pole. In the event of a solar storm like the one that occurred Tuesday night, the lights can occasionally be seen further south. Read on for more details on how to catch a glimpse of the lights tonight.
Lambertville, New Jersey
What Makes the Northern Lights Visible in New Jersey?
You might not need to travel all the way to Norway to get a good look at the northern lights, at least not this week. NPR reporting stated that Tuesday night’s northern lights sightings as far south as Florida resulted from a geomagnetic storm. The storm conditions are expected to continue into tonight.
Read More: Northern Lights Visible in Northern New Jersey This Week for the 3rd Time Since October
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts geomagnetic storm activity and shared the following statement via X:
WATCH: Geomagnetic Storm Category G4 or Greater Predicted
Highest Storm Level Predicted by Day:
Nov 13: G4 (Severe) Nov 14: G1 (Minor) Nov 15: None (Below G1)
Issue Time: 2025 Nov 12 1805 UTChttps://t.co/ZbtuNtJdza— NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (@NWSSWPC) November 12, 2025
The NOAA breaks down the science of the aurora borealis phenomenon as electrons colliding with Earth’s upper atmosphere, forming an oval over the magnetic North Pole. When there are geomagnetic or solar storms, the band of that oval expands away from the poles, spreading the field further south so that the lights can be seen in most of the northern hemisphere, including New Jersey. The NOAA forecasts severe category G4 geomagnetic storms for today and tomorrow, resulting in a high likelihood of seeing the lights but also potential negative impacts for power grids, radio, and other technology that relies on electromagnetic fields.
Photo Credit: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
A storm of similar strength took place in October of 2024, which was the last time the lights were seen across various U.S. states, including New Jersey. Per NPR, geomagnetic storms are occurring more often and at higher severity due to the sun reaching its solar maximum at the peak of its 11-year cycle. This means that the sun is producing increased solar winds, sending more electrically charged particles towards Earth, which emit light when they interact with the upper atmosphere.
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How to Get The Best View
To get the best view of the lights, the NOAA says to watch within two hours of midnight, which is when the curtain-like lights “dance” in the sky. Darkest conditions are best, so rural areas away from light pollution will also have a better sight of the lights compared to suburbs and urban areas. The Jersey Shore had a particularly good view of last night’s lights, and will likely have the same conditions tonight.
According to New Jersey Patch, the northern lights were spotted in Lakehurst, Metuchen, South Plainfield, Ocean City, and more on Tuesday night. To track where the lights may be visible closest to you, the NOAA has a 30-minute aurora forecast, and apps like AuroraReach track aurora sightings globally. PS – please tag @thehobokengirl in your aurora pics!
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