A massive ball of plasma and an accompanying magnetic field ejected from the sun is expected to strike Earth on Thursday morning, potentially triggering auroras as far south as Alabama, according to U.S. forecasters.
As the sun approaches—or is possibly at—the peak of its 11-year solar cycle, solar activity is heightened, leading to more frequent and intense solar events. In May, Earth experienced its most powerful geomagnetic storms in two decades, producing colorful displays across night skies far from the poles.
\"The current anticipation is that it is going to arrive tomorrow morning to midday, Eastern time, and perhaps continue on into the following day,\" Shawn Dahl of the Space Weather Prediction Center told reporters on Wednesday.
The coronal mass ejection (CME) is hurtling through space at an astonishing speed of 4 million kilometers per hour. The Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a level 4 geomagnetic storm watch (G4), which is one level below the highest possible G5 observed in May. However, the final impact could vary, potentially falling below or exceeding the G4 level.
Accurate predictions are challenging until approximately 15 to 30 minutes before impact when the CME crosses tracking satellites located a million miles from Earth.
Dahl noted that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), already dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and preparing for Hurricane Milton, has been informed of the impending solar storm. Utility companies operating the North American power grid have also been notified to take precautionary measures if necessary.
When CMEs collide with Earth's magnetosphere, they can create geomagnetic storms capable of disrupting satellites, affecting radio communications, GPS systems, and even terrestrial power grids. Historical events like the \"Halloween Storms\" of October 2003 resulted in blackouts in Sweden and damaged power infrastructure in South Africa.
The geomagnetic storms in May disrupted precision GPS systems used by U.S. farmers across the Midwest and caused some high-voltage transformers to trip, though without significant disruption to the power grid, according to Dahl. He added that around 5,000 satellites required orbital adjustments because the storm inflated the ionosphere, causing them to slow down and risk de-orbiting.
Skygazers in the right latitudes—potentially as far south as northern California or Alabama in the U.S.—may be treated to dazzling auroras. Experts advise viewing away from city lights to maximize visibility. Utilizing cameras or smartphones can enhance the experience, as digital sensors can often capture auroras even when they are not visible to the naked eye.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com