Government Agency Warns of ‘Severe’ Geomagnetic Storm Alert

March 24, 2024 TruthUSA

A federal weather agency has issued an alert stating that a “severe” geomagnetic storm is impacting Earth on Sunday and will last until Monday.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center has warned of a “major disturbance in Earth’s magnetic field” occurring on Sunday, issuing a G4, or “severe,” geomagnetic storm alert.

A solar coronal mass ejection arrived around March 24, resulting in “severe (G4) geomagnetic storming observed and expected to continue through the remainder of Sunday and into Monday. The impact on satellites or telecommunications is unclear.

“The public is not expected to experience adverse impacts and no action is required,” the agency stated. However, staying informed of storm progression by visiting their webpage is recommended.

Operators of infrastructure have been notified to mitigate possible impacts such as “frequent voltage control problems.” There is also an “increased possibility of anomalies” to satellites, with “more frequent” periods of GPS degradation possible, according to NOAA.

In a statement posted on X on Saturday, the agency issued a geomagnetic storm watch as a coronal mass ejection from the sun is on track to impact Earth. The storms could be “moderate” or “strong,” with the severity reaching G4 as the storm struck on Sunday.

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The University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute’s website signaled that it is forecasting high aurora borealis, or northern lights, activity until Monday evening. The forecast predicts highly active auroral displays visible from Utqiagvik to as far south as Kodiak and King Salmon, weather permitting.

As of 2:30 p.m. ET, NOAA’s forecast suggests that people in the northern portions of the lower 48 U.S. states may be able to see the northern lights on Sunday and Monday night. States with the best chance of seeing them include Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

However, it remains uncertain if the aurora borealis will be visible in the lower 48, as Eric Snitil, chief meteorologist at WROC-TV in Rochester, New York, stated that the northern lights may be visible if the storming continues into the night. He added that a G4 storm means residents as far south as Alabama and California could see them.

“It is possible conditions for viewing may be missed in the United States during the daytime,” he said. “Bottom line, it’s now a wait-and-see game we’ll be playing. Folks on the other side of the planet are in for a real treat over the next few hours. Time will tell if this show has enough gas in the tank to keep going beyond nightfall locally,” he added.

According to NOAA’s website, a geomagnetic storm indicates a disturbance in Earth’s magnetosphere, occurring when solar wind energy impacts the planet’s surrounding area. These events typically follow solar eruptions.

The most recent solar flare that triggered the current geomagnetic storm occurred as the sun was nearing the peak of its current cycle, which began several years ago, as noted in a recent article on NOAA’s website.

“As we approach the peak of Solar Cycle 25, we should expect to see more sunspots, each of which is a region of intense magnetic activity capable of producing solar flares and coronal mass ejections, or CMEs,” NOAA explained. “This period of elevated activity can last up to several years, with impactful space weather events possible in 2024.”

Over time, there have been warnings that highly potent solar flares could lead to widespread disruptions on Earth. Researchers suggest that such an event could cause global chaos due to severe impacts on electronics, telecommunications, and power grids worldwide.

“Extreme solar storms could have tremendous impacts on Earth. Such super storms could permanently damage the transformers in our electricity grids, causing massive and prolonged blackouts,” explained Tim Heaton, a professor at the University of Leeds. “They could also result in irreversible harm to satellites we rely on for navigation and telecommunication, rendering them unusable. Additionally, they would pose severe radiation risks to astronauts.”

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