US authorities have issued Severe (G4) Geomagnetic Solar Storm Watch alert in nearly two decades due to an impending powerful solar storm set to strike Earth today (Friday).
Severe (G4) geomagnetic solar storm watch alert
This alert, issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Thursday, marks the first of its kind since 2005. The alert was prompted by the observation of at least five “earth-directed coronal mass ejections,” anticipated to reach Earth as early as today and persist until Sunday.
Large sunspot groups and strong solar flares led to the issuance of SWPC's first G4 Watch since 2005… pic.twitter.com/oi55cTPXhP
— NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (@NWSSWPC) May 9, 2024
This solar activity also raises the possibility of the Northern Lights being visible from Ireland.
The NOAA also reported the observation of numerous strong flares in recent days, linked to a sizable and magnetically intricate sunspot cluster measuring 16 times the diameter of Earth. Coronal mass ejections, which are eruptions of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun, cause geomagnetic storms when they are directed towards Earth.
G5 geomagnetic storm in 2003
According to the NOAA, these storms have the potential to affect infrastructure both in near-Earth orbit and on the Earth’s surface, possibly disrupting communication systems, the electric grid, navigation, radio, and satellite operations. For instance, in 2003, a G5 geomagnetic storm led to power outages in Sweden and inflicted damage on power transformers in South Africa.
Moreover, geomagnetic storms can induce stunning displays of auroras on Earth. There’s a chance that the Northern Lights may be visible tonight and tomorrow night as a result.
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