Solar storm bombarding Earth now may reach 'extreme' levels, sparking auroras down to Alabama and straining hurricane-weakened power grids
Update for Oct. 11: The severe G3 geomagnetic storm has sparked dazzling auroras around the world for skywatchers. Read our full story and see northern lights photos from Space.com readers.
A severe solar storm sparked by an intense flare from the sun could reach "extreme" levels as it bombards Earth, officials with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warned on Thursday (Oct. 10).
Scientists with NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Group (SWPC) said that a cloud of charged solar material, called a coronal mass ejection, slammed into Earth around midday, triggering a "severe" geomagnetic storm that could impact power grids and GPS and radio communications systems, as well as amplify aurora displays in regions that typically don't see them.
"When skies are clear, the aurora (northern lights) could be visible as far south as Alabama and northern California tonight," SWPC officials wrote in an update.
The coronal mass ejection, or CME, from the sun reached Earth at 11:17 a.m. EDT (1517 GMT) and triggered a severe G4-class geomagnetic storm by 12:57 p.m. EDT (1657 GMT), SWPC officials said in an update. And it may not be done yet.
https://www.space.com/extreme-solar-storm-affects-auroras-power-grids-october-2024
