Geomagnetic Storm Watch Issued After Powerful Solar Flare
Severe Storm Could Impact Earth's Power Grid and Communications
A powerful solar flare has triggered a severe geomagnetic storm watch for the first time in nearly 20 years. The source of the solar storm is a cluster of sunspots that erupted on May 9, 2024. The flare was so intense that it caused a coronal mass ejection (CME), which is a huge cloud of charged particles that travels through space.
The CME is expected to arrive at Earth on May 10, 2024, and could cause a geomagnetic storm that could impact Earth's power grid and communications. A geomagnetic storm is a disturbance of Earth's magnetic field that can disrupt electrical systems and communications.
NOAA space weather forecasters have observed at least one coronal mass ejection (CME) heading towards Earth. A CME is a large cloud of charged particles that is ejected from the sun's corona. When a CME interacts with Earth's magnetic field, it can cause a geomagnetic storm.
The last time a severe geomagnetic storm hit Earth was in 2003. That storm caused widespread power outages and communications disruptions. The current storm is expected to be less severe, but it could still cause some problems.
The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) has issued a G4 watch for May 10, 2024. A G4 watch means that there is a 70% chance of a severe geomagnetic storm. This is the first G4 watch that the SWPC has issued since 2005.
The SWPC is urging people to take precautions to protect their electrical systems and communications equipment from the storm. People should also be aware of the potential for power outages and communications disruptions.
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