Northern lights in New Jersey tonight
The aurora forecast for New Jersey, hour by hour: the Kp index NOAA expects, how dark it gets, the Moon and the clouds, for the north of the state (Newton) where the odds are best.
Unlikely Sunday, October 25
The highest Kp expected after dark tonight is 3. Newton (north New Jersey) needs about Kp 7 to see the aurora low on the northern horizon, and the sky cover forecast after dark averages 3%. The Moon is 100% lit.
| Time | Sky | Kp | Clouds | Moon | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 PM | Twilight | 3.00 | 2% | 16° | Not dark yet |
| 8 PM | Dark | 3.00 | 3% | 27° | Unlikely |
| 9 PM | Dark | 3.00 | 2% | 38° | Unlikely |
| 10 PM | Dark | 3.00 | 2% | 48° | Unlikely |
| 11 PM | Dark | 2.00 | 3% | 58° | Unlikely |
| 12 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 2% | 64° | Unlikely |
| 1 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 2% | 65° | Unlikely |
| 2 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 14% | 60° | Unlikely |
| 3 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 2% | 52° | Unlikely |
| 4 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 0% | 41° | Unlikely |
| 5 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 2% | 31° | Unlikely |
| 6 AM | Dark | 2.00 | 4% | 20° | Unlikely |
Forecast from NOAA SWPC (Kp, 3-hour blocks) and the National Weather Service (sky cover), checked when this page was built. The page updates itself when it can reach our data feed.
What Kp you need in New Jersey
The farther north (in magnetic terms) you stand, the lower the Kp you need. From Newton, an aurora usually shows low on the northern horizon once Kp reaches about 7; overhead displays need about two steps more. A phone camera in night mode often records it one step earlier than the eye. How we estimate this: our method.
How often the aurora reaches New Jersey
Our own count from the official Kp archive: on how many nights each year the Kp index reached about 7 or more while it was dark at Newton. Clouds are not counted, so the real number of nights with a visible aurora is lower. Over the last 10 years the average was 1.7 nights a year; in 2025 it was 5.
Data: Kp index since 1932, GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences (Matzka et al., 2021), CC BY 4.0. Darkness computed by us for each 3-hour interval (Sun 12° or more below the horizon).
The next 27 days
NOAA's 27-day outlook has no day with a largest Kp near the 7 that Newton needs. The outlook repeats the Sun's 27-day rotation and cannot see sudden storms, so check the 3-day forecast too.
| Day (UTC) | Largest Kp | At Newton |
|---|---|---|
| Sun, Oct 25 | 3 | Unlikely |
| Mon, Oct 26 | 2 | Unlikely |
| Tue, Oct 27 | 2 | Unlikely |
| Wed, Oct 28 | 2 | Unlikely |
| Thu, Oct 29 | 2 | Unlikely |
| Fri, Oct 30 | 2 | Unlikely |
| Sat, Oct 31 | 5 | Unlikely |
| Sun, Nov 1 | 5 | Unlikely |
| Mon, Nov 2 | 3 | Unlikely |
| Tue, Nov 3 | 2 | Unlikely |
First 10 days shown. Full table: 27-day aurora forecast.
Where to watch in New Jersey
New Jersey is densely lit, so the aurora usually needs a strong storm and a trip to the northwest corner. Sussex County around Newton and High Point is the darkest part of the state. South Jersey's Pine Barrens are dark too, but farther from the action.
High ridges in the northwest give a view north toward New York state. Avoid looking toward the lights of the Newark area.
- High Point State Park: state park at the highest point in New Jersey, in the far northwest
- Stokes State Forest: forested ridge state park north of Branchville
- Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area: river valley recreation area along the Pennsylvania border
Nearby states
Questions people ask
Can you see the northern lights in New Jersey?
Yes, on active nights. From Newton it takes about Kp 7, which happened on about 1.7 nights a year over the last 10 years (before clouds).
What time is best?
Usually between 10 pm and 2 am local time, when the sky is fully dark and your location faces the night side of the auroral oval. Storms can bring it earlier or later.
Which way should I look?
North, toward a low, open horizon away from city lights. In strong storms the aurora can climb higher or appear overhead.
Is this an official forecast?
No. It is our estimate built from NOAA's Kp forecast, the National Weather Service sky cover forecast and the Sun and Moon positions. It is not a promise.
Sources: Kp forecast and 27-day outlook: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (public domain). Sky cover: National Weather Service (public domain). Kp archive: GFZ, CC BY 4.0. Coordinates: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer. Sun and Moon: Astronomy Engine. Unofficial estimates, not a guarantee.
Page checked: October 25, 2026.