A RARE “severe” warning has been issued for a massive solar storm due to arrive at Earth tomorrow.
The storm risks causing major disruption to internet, phone signals and power grids.
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The warning has been put in effect by the Space Weather Prediction Centre.
It comes after a coronal mass ejection (CME) erupted from the Sun yesterday evening.
The authority says it will likely lead to “immediate geomagnetic disturbances”.
A statement says: “Confidence in an Earth-arrival component to this CME is good.
“However, timing and intensity are more uncertain. These watches represent potential based on our best analyses.
“We will not know the true nature of this CME’s geomagnetic storm potential until the CME arrives at our solar wind observatories located 1 million miles from Earth.
“Upon arrival at those spacecraft, we will know the magnetic strength and orientation that are very important to what levels and duration of geomagnetic storm conditions are expected to occur.
“As always visit our website for the latest information and updates.”
The Space Weather Prediction Centre adds that impacts to technological infrastructure are “possible” but could be mitigated.
Its impact might also mean the aurora could be visible in the northern half of the United States.
This could be visible as far south as Alabama and Northern California.
What are geomagnetic storms?
The Met Office defines geomagnetic storms as “disturbances in the Earth’s magnetic field caused by solar activity”
It lists potential physical impacts as:
- Geomagnetically induced currents affecting power lines and pipelines
- Increased ionisation that can affect radio signals
- Thermosphere heating, which can expand and affect satellite orbits
Technological impacts might include:
- Potential power grid blackouts during severe events
- GNSS and HF communications, such as GPS signals
- Satellites, through surface charging and increased drag
- Spacecraft operations as a result of radiation and signal interference
The CME erupted from the Sun on the evening of May 30 and is expected to arrive at Earth on June 1.
The “severe” storm watch is in effect through to June 2.
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