A geomagnetic storm alert has been issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) for July 30-August 1 due to severe solar activity. In case G3 conditions are met as stated in the forecast, auroras may be visible at middle latitudes around 50 degrees. NOAA SPWC says similar geomagnetic storms have produced auroras that were seen as far south as Illinois and Oregon.
At 0027 on July 30 (8:27 PM EDT on July 29), Earth’s magnetic field experienced a minor geomagnetic storm caused by one of several incoming coronal mass ejections (CMEs).
On X, space weather physicist Tamitha Skov said, “This is an auspicious start to the multiple storm train we are expecting over the next few days,” after NWS Riverton posted about seeing auroras as low as Wyoming, US during the solar storm.
The basis of this warning is many M-class solar flares erupted by the sun this weekend together with some coronal mass ejections (CMEs). The first two CMEs collided creating a “Cannibal CME” which is clearing a way for at least two more CMEs following behind it according to Spaceweather.com. It is not known when exactly these CMEs will reach us but they will do so between July 30 and early August 1st.
These are electrically charged particles called ions that get carried through space in Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs). It could initiate geomagnetic storms if a CME ever collided with Earth’s magnetic field. During these incidents, ions interact with atmospheric gases and emit light energy. When this happens there is northern lights in Northern Hemisphere and southern lights in Southern Hemisphere.
NOAA uses G-scale to categorize intensity of geomagnetic storms which range from G1 (minor) to G5 (most extreme). NOAA’s current geomagnetic storm watch suggests a G3-class storm for July 30 with G2 periods expected on July 31. The purpose of the G-scale is to help classify the strength and likely outcome of these kinds of geomagnetic events.
