A significant geomagnetic storm is anticipated to occur between October 10 and 11, 2024, following a powerful solar eruption from sunspot AR 3848. This event, classified as an X 1.8 flare, is among the most intense on the scale used to measure solar activity.
The eruption caused radio blackouts in daylight regions of Earth and was accompanied by a coronal mass ejection (CME), which is a massive burst of solar particles and magnetic fields directed towards our planet. The CME is traveling at over 4 billion km/h, making it one of the fastest observed.
According to Shawn Dahl from the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), the CME is expected to reach Earth's magnetic field early on October 10. He compared the arrival of the CME to a strong cold front, where a sudden gust of wind precedes extreme temperature changes.
The SWPC has issued a G4-level geomagnetic storm warning, the second highest on the scale, marking the second such alert in 2024. While these storms pose minimal risk to humans on the surface, they can disrupt radio communications, affect electrical grids, and damage satellites. Conversely, they can enhance auroras, making them visible at lower latitudes than usual.