An intense aurora substorm lit up the sky over Mount Washington in New Hampshire’s White Mountains around 3:40 AM on October 4, 2026, coinciding with peak autumn foliage.
- At 3:40 a.m. on Mount Washington, the hikers came for fall colors and got the sky’s after-hours light show.
- Peak foliage below, aurora above—New Hampshire really went all out on the scenery package.
- The hikers thought they were chasing autumn leaves. Turns out, the mountain had a brighter idea.
- On Mount Washington, even the sunrise got up early to see the aurora.
3:40 a.m.: the leaves were asleep, the hikers were awake, and the sky was showing off. - “I came for the fall colors,” said one hiker. “Then the sky changed the subject.”
- Mount Washington’s forecast: crisp air, colorful leaves, and a chance of the heavens stealing the view.
- The aurora appeared right at peak foliage, proving New Hampshire can coordinate its colors—even in the middle of the night.