Clouds could prevent Western Pa. from seeing northern lights

The northern lights are expected to return to the skies over Southwestern Pennsylvania on Wednesday night — but cloudy conditions could block the view.

Andrew Kienzle, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Moon, said the aurora borealis is expected to peak between 9 and 11 p.m. Wednesday night.

“Right now, we are looking at the possibility that some clouds could get in the way of seeing the northern lights,” he said. “At that time frame, it looks like a lot of Southwestern Pennsylvania will be locked with cloud coverage.”

If locals want to catch a glimpse of the phenomenon, Kienzle said their best bet would be in Eastern Ohio or Northern West Virginia.

“The best and closest chance to see it is probably out in Eastern Ohio,” he said.

As for traveling south, Kienzle said the southern extent of visualization is at the border of Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

“It just looks like clouds will obscure it for our area,” he said.

Kienzle said Tuesday night brought similar conditions, with cloud cover blocking views across Southwestern Pennsylvania.

By Thursday night, the southern edge of visibility is expected to move north toward the Lake Erie region, making Wednesday night the best chance to catch the display — though it won’t be as intense then.

At its peak Wednesday night, Kienzle said, the northern lights are expected to be “quite bright and active.”

“More active periods in the sun cycle give us more active periods of aurora,” Kienzle said.

The aurora is expected to reach a G4, or “severe,” geomagnetic storm level on a scale from zero to five, and a Kp index of 8 on a scale from zero to nine — both very strong readings, Kienzle said, indicating the lights should be especially bright.

“It’s just a measure of solar activity and the brightness of the aurora itself,” Kienzle explained. “Higher numbers mean more solar activity, which makes the aurora more vibrant and visible.”

Light pollution around Pittsburgh often makes it tough to see the aurora, even when it’s visible like it will be Wednesday night, Kienzle said. The best views are usually found in rural areas with dark, open skies.

For those heading west into Ohio to catch the northern lights Wednesday, Kienzle advised dressing warmly — temperatures are expected to dip into the 30s.

“It might be a little chilly out there tonight,” he said. “You’re going to be kind of standing out in the cold.”

The forecast for the aurora borealis can be found on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center website via a graphical map.