Earth-directed solar flares leading up to Election Day create geomagnetic storm potential

After reaching solar maximum in Solar Cycle 25, Sun continues to produce more solar flares, with some components directed toward Earth. Fortunately, these will arrive after election day.

NOAA Space Weather The Prediction Center issued a G1 Geomagnetic storm watch for thursday Geomagnetic storm of this magnitude is common.

SWPC rates solar storms on a five level scalefive being the most extreme and rarest space weather conditions. Minor, Level 1 of 5, geomagnetic storm possible Thursday.

On NOAA’s 5-level scale, it is level 1. However, it is possible that several solar regions on the Sun may continue to explode in solar flares with possible components directed toward Earth.

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SWPC said solar flare activity is likely to remain high through Wednesday. If a coronal mass ejection (CME) associated with an eruption is heading toward Earth, it may take several days for those impacts to occur.

When the Sun emits solar flares, solar phenomena known as coronal mass ejections send charged particles towards Earth. When these particles interact with the Earth’s magnetic field, we can see displays of Northern Lightsknown as the Aurora Borealis. During minor and moderate geomagnetic storms, the aurora borealis can be visible at higher latitudes and in the US in places like Tomorrow and Nordic Michigan.

Another aspect of space weather is the impact it can have on critical systems we use every day on Earth, including the power grid, communications and GPS navigation.

The SWPC also rates radio blackouts and solar radiation storms on a 5-level scale. This week’s solar flares are likely to produce only level 1 and 2 impacts, which could cause limited disruption of high-frequency radio communications and loss of radio contact for several minutes. GPS navigation could also be temporarily degraded.

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The latest Geomagnetic Storm Watch comes after NOAA and GODMOTHER revealed that the Sun had reached solar maximuma period of maximum sunspot activity in its 11-year cycle. However, space weather experts said peak activity will continue until 2025.

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