The solar storm now bombarding Earth could reach “extreme” proportions, triggering auroras as far away as Alabama and straining power grids weakened by the hurricane

A severe solar storm triggered by an intense solar flare could reach “extreme” proportions in bombarding Earth, officials at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warned on Thursday (October 10).

Scientists with NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Group (SWPC) said a cloud of charged solar material, called a coronal mass ejection, hit Earth around midday, triggering a “severe” geomagnetic storm that will impact power grids and GPS and radio communications systems could. They also magnify northern lights in regions where they are not normally visible.

“With clear skies, the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) could be visible as far away as Alabama and Northern California this evening,” SWPC officials wrote in an update.

The coronal mass ejection (CME) from the Sun reached Earth at 11:17 a.m. EDT (1517 GMT) and triggered a G4-class severe geomagnetic storm at 12:57 p.m. EDT (1657 GMT), SWPC officials said in a statement Update. And maybe it's not finished yet.

“There is still a possibility that we could reach the G5 (Extreme) level,” SWPC officials wrote in the update, adding that the solar storm will last until Friday (October 11).

Of particular concern is the potential impact on Earth's infrastructure that may be affected by radio outages and other disruptions associated with severe geomagnetic storms. In 1989, for example, a massive solar storm triggered a widespread power outage in parts of Canada and some northeastern U.S. states, SWPC officials said.

Some states, such as North Carolina and Florida, already experiencing widespread power outages due to the impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, could be at greater risk from the solar storm, NOAA officials warned.

A close-up shot of a bright solar flare erupting from the sun on October 8, 2024.

A close-up of a bright X1.8 solar flare erupting from the Sun on October 8, 2024. (Image credit: NASA/SDO)

“The storm could place additional strain on power grids already weakened by the hurricanes,” SWPC officials wrote. “SWPC has already notified FEMA and several state agencies involved in recovery efforts.”

Thursday's G4 geomagnetic storm warning was only the second issued by NOAA-SWPC officials since 2005 and follows a similar event in May of this year. In this May event, a series of massive solar flares sent multiple CMEs toward Earth and triggered spectacular northern lights as far south as Alabama. Similar aurora impacts are possible for the current storm, SWPC officials said in an Oct. 9 news conference.

The CME that triggered geomagnetic storm G4 on Thursday was linked to a class X1.8 solar flare originating from the sun. This torch is one of several torches in the stormy weather class.

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