Solar activity has been particularly intense this week, with the sun unleashing powerful solar flares, including an X1.3-class flare on Thursday, September 12. The burst, coming from an unnumbered sunspot, occurred at 5:43 a.m. EST (9:43 UTC). X-class flares, the most powerful of their kind, can cause disruptions to radio communications, especially in sunlit areas. In this case, the flare affected high-frequency radio bands in Africa, Europe and parts of Asia, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Probability of geomagnetic storm and aurora borealis
The X1.3-class flare was followed by a geomagnetic storm on September 12, 2024, rated G3 on a five-point scale by NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center. The storm was the result of a coronal mass ejection (CME) triggered by a solar flare earlier this week on September 10. As the CME moves through space, it carries plasma and magnetic fields away from the solar corona.
When they reach Earth, they could trigger geomagnetic storms and enhance auroras in the Northern Hemisphere. Some areas in the western U.S. reported visible auroras after the storm. In addition to the X-class event, other M-class solar flares were observed from sunspots AR 3811 and AR 3814 earlier this week.
Another geomagnetic storm is expected
According to NOAA, aurora watchers will have another chance on Friday, September 13, 2024, when another geomagnetic storm is expected. That storm will be triggered by a CME that erupted earlier this week. Because CMEs take several days to reach Earth, the geomagnetic storm could lead to even more brilliant aurora displays in parts of the United States, especially at higher latitudes. NOAA scientists continue to closely monitor solar activity to forecast any potential effects on Earth’s magnetic field.
Keep a close eye on the sky this weekend as auroras could light up the night in parts of the United States due to increased solar activity.
