Minor Solar Storm Arriving July 7th

Overview: The Space Weather Prediction Center expects a geomagnetic storm, also referred to as a Coronal Mass Ejection, to arrive at earth on July 7th. The storm will have some impacts but they should remain minimal with the aurora becoming more visible in the northern hemisphere during this period and minimal communications and navigation disruptions.

What: An eruption from the sun is heading for earth.

When: It is expected to arrive at earth sometime on July 7th.

Why: Occasionally, sunspot regions produce explosive activity resulting in a "piece" of the sun's outer atmosphere (called Coronal Mass Ejections or CMEs) being hurled into space. These CMEs are sometimes directed towards earth. Impacts: Once the CME arrives at earth, it interacts with earth's magnetic field because the CME also carries a magnetic field of it's own. If you've ever taken two magnets and stuck them together, that's what we're looking for, but on a planet-sized scale. When the magnetic fields of the CME and Earth connect well, we experience a Geomagnetic Storm.

Impacts: What this means for most people is they'll potentially have an opportunity to see the aurora if they're at the right latitude. The stronger the storm, the further equatorward the aurora will move. Aurora visibility will be unlikely in our region both due to the weaker nature of this event and with possible cloud cover overnight on the 7th but sightings could still be possible. This storm is expected to be a G1 (minor) storm, so the aurora is not expected to push very far south in the northern hemisphere. Other interests, including navigation, communication, and power distribution can be affected, but as this is a minor storm, the impact is expected to be minimal.

A aurora forecast graphic tomorrow night with a viewing line of where the aurora could be possibly sighted.

(Courtesy of: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center)

You can find out more about CMEs here: https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/phenomena/coronal-mass-ejections#:~:text=Coronal%20Mass%20Ejections%20(CMEs)%20are,magnetic%20field%20(IMF)%20strength.

Find the latest aurora forecast from the Space Weather Prediction Center here: https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/aurora-dashboard-experimental