A powerful solar storm reached Earth on Thursday, potentially impacting recovery efforts for hurricanes Helene and Milton, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The coronal mass ejection (CME) erupted from the sun on Tuesday evening and arrived at our planet at 11:15 a.m. on Thursday, traveling at nearly 1.5 million miles per hour (2.4 million kilometers per hour), as reported by NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC).
The storm has reached G4 (Severe) levels, prompting the SWPC to issue multiple warnings and maintain a G4 or higher Geomagnetic Storm Watch through Thursday and into Friday.
This severe geomagnetic storm could hinder recovery efforts for hurricanes Helene and Milton by causing communication disruptions, stressing power grids, and degrading GPS services, according to NOAA.
Under clear skies, the aurora borealis may be visible as far south as Alabama and northern California on Thursday night, offering a rare spectacle for residents in these regions.
Coronal mass ejections are powerful explosions of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun's corona. When directed at Earth, they can interact with our planet's magnetic field, causing geomagnetic storms that have the potential to disrupt technological systems.
The SWPC continues to monitor the situation closely, advising caution as the storm progresses.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
