Did you see it? Northern Lights to shine again over the Philly region tonight

Did you spot the Northern Lights in the sky last night?

Space weather forecasters issued an alert on Tuesday, Nov. 11 for incoming severe solar storms that could produce colorful northern lights.

An NBC10 viewer shared pictures from Pottstown, Pennsylvania, of the stunning display.

If you missed the beautifully colored sky on Tuesday night, there’ll be another chance to see the Northern Lights tonight, Wednesday, Nov. 12.

This is all thanks to a geomagnetic storm.

How do Northern Lights happen?

The sun is at the maximum phase of its 11-year activity cycle, making the light displays more common and widespread. Colorful northern lights have decorated night skies in unexpected places and space weather experts say there are more auroras still to come.

Aurora displays known as the northern and southern lights are commonly visible near the poles, where charged particles from the sun interact with Earth’s atmosphere.

Skygazers are spotting the lights deeper into the United States and Europe because the sun is going through a major face-lift. Every 11 years, its poles swap places, causing magnetic twists and tangles along the way.

Last year, the strongest geomagnetic storm in two decades slammed Earth, producing light displays across the Northern Hemisphere. And soon afterward, a powerful solar storm dazzled skygazers far from the Arctic Circle when dancing lights appeared in unexpected places including Germany, the United Kingdom, New England and New York City.

Ways to see the Northern Lights

If you missed the dazzling light display, don’t worry, you may have another chance. 

A significantly larger display is possible on the night of Wednesday, November 12, 2025.

Northern lights forecasts can be found on NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center website or an aurora forecasting app.

Consider aurora-watching in a quiet, dark area away from city lights.

Experts recommend skygazing from a local or national park.

Don’t forget to check the weather forecast because clouds could cover up the spectacle entirely.

Taking a picture with a smartphone camera may also reveal hints of the aurora that aren’t visible to the naked eye.

If you see the Northern Lights on Wednesday, share them with us by clicking here.

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