Upstate New York lit up Sunday night, not with the usual early fall colors, but with a dazzling northern lights display.

Auroras were spotted across the U.S.-Canadian border states, including New York, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Washington, after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center forecast a G3 storm triggered by solar winds from a coronal hole high-speed stream.

Those who caught alerts from social media apps were treated to shimmering skies across the state. But according to NOAA, the chances of a repeat performance Monday night are slim as the storm is receding. Aurora chasers can keep watch on forecasts through NOAA’s prediction center online and Facebook page.

Northern lights sightings in New York aren’t unheard of, but they depend on factors like storm intensity and cloud cover. In 2024, Upstate skies glowed multiple times — in May, August, September and October — with rainbow-hued auroras.

Here are some of the amazing photos our readers captured:

Northern lights in Upstate NY 2025A blaze of aurora over Great Sacandaga Lake around 10:45 p.m. on Sept. 14, 2025. Thomas Schettine | @tom_schettine on InstagramThomas Schettine | @tom_schettine on InstagramNorthern lights in Upstate NYAurora over Albany on Sept. 14, 2025. Tony Colasurdo | @tcolasurdo on InstagramTony Colasurdo | @tcolasurdo on InstagramNorthern lights over Upstate NYNorthern lights over Lake Ontario in Western NY. Jim Montanus | @montanus.photography on InstagramJim Montanus | @montanus.photography on InstagramNorthern lights Upstate NYNorthern lights over Lake Ontario in Western NY on Sept. 14, 2025. Jim Montanus | @montanus.photography on InstagramJim Montanus | @montanus.photography on InstagramNorthern lights in Upstate NYNorthern lights seen at Robert G. Wehle State Park on Sept. 14, 2025. Tyler Bowles
| @tylertbowles on InstagramTyler Bowles | @tylertbowles on InstagramNorthern lights in Upstate NY 2025Northern lights over Oneida Lake on Sept. 14, 2025. Provided photo | Tommy OlearyProvided photo | Tommy OlearyNorthern lights in Upstate NY 2025Aurora lights the sky over Mannsville, N.Y. on Sept. 14, 2025. Provided photo | Myranda AnnProvided photo | Myranda AnnNorthern lights over Upstate NYChapel Pond in the Adirondacks aglow with aurora on Sept. 14, 2025. Jack Conners | @jack_adirondack on InstagramJack Conners | @jack_adirondack on InstagramNorthern lights over Upstate NY 2025Northern lights dance across Lake Ontario near Webster Park. Seen between 10:45 p.n. – 11:30 p.m. Provided photo | Robert BajdasProvided photo | Robert BajdasNorthern lights in Upstate NY 2025Aurora lights the sky over Mannsville, N.Y. on Sept. 14, 2025. Provided photo | Myranda AnnProvided photo | Myranda AnnNorthern lights over Upstate NYAurora in Lake Placid on Sept. 14, 2025. Nick Zachara | @niklas_zach on InstagramNick Zachara | @niklas_zach on InstagramNorthern lights over Upstate NY 2025Aurora colors seen over Paul Smiths on Sept. 14, 2025. Tommy Horn | @adk_trail_trekker on InstagramTommy Horn | @adk_trail_trekker on InstagramNorthern lights in Upstate NY 2025Aurora lights the sky over Mannsville, N.Y. on Sept. 14, 2025. Provided photo | Myranda AnnProvided photo | Myranda AnnNorthern lights in Upstate NY 2025Auroras shine in Sackets Harbor between 9:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. on Sept. 14, 2025. Provided photo | Abigal CGProvided photo | Abigal CGNorthern lights over Upstate NYAurora above Lake Placid on Sept. 14, 2025. Nick Zachara | @niklas_zach on InstagramNick Zachara | @niklas_zach on InstagramNorthern lights in Upstate NY 2025Auroras shine in Sackets Harbor between 9:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. on Sept. 14, 2025. Provided photo | Abigal CGProvided photo | Abigal CGNorthern lights in Upstate NY 2025Auroras shine in Sackets Harbor between 9:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. on Sept. 14, 2025. Provided photo | Abigal CGProvided photo | Abigal CG

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.