Severe Geomagnetic Storm To Hit Earth As Hurricane Batters Florida

NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) warned Wednseday that a super fast Earth-facing coronal mass ejection (CME) erupted from the sun at a speed of 1200 to 1300 km/s and would spark a severe (G4) geomagnetic storm on Thursday, potentially disrupting critical assets on the grid that are crucial for powering modern society.

Solar flares are powerful bursts of radiation. Harmful radiation from a flare cannot pass through Earth’s atmosphere to physically affect humans on the ground. However — when intense enough — they can disturb the atmosphere in the layer where GPS & communications signals travel.

— NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun) October 9, 2024

According to SWPC's website, the space weather event will "likely arrive at Earth on 10 October," adding, "We won't know the characteristics of the CME until it arrives 1 million miles from Earth and its speed and magnetic intensity are measured by the DSCOVR and ACE satellites." 

WATCH: Geomagnetic Storm Category G4 or Greater Predicted
Highest Storm Level Predicted by Day:
Oct 10: G4 (Severe) Oct 11: G4 (Severe) Oct 12: G1 (Minor)
Issue Time: 2024 Oct 09 1233 UTChttps://t.co/ZbtuNtIFJC

— NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (@NWSSWPC) October 9, 2024

The NOAA Geomagnetic Storm Scale indicates a G4 storm can disrupt "key assets" on the grid... 

Visualize it.

The solar storm is set to arrive just hours after Hurricane Milton pounds Central Florida early Thursday morning.

X1.8 Solar Flare - Big Coronal Mass Ejection of Plasma

Impact to earth is expected Friday/Saturday, with strong geomagnetic storms predicted. pic.twitter.com/4ZQOr0CmRH

— SpaceWeatherNews (@SunWeatherMan) October 9, 2024

SWPC's Aurora forecast for tomorrow shows that northern lights will be visible as low as the Pacific Northwest, Midwest, Mid-Alantic, and Northeast. 

It appears as if the NYC is in play. 

Huge Flare, and great forecast for NYC both in terms of Aurora AND clouds Thursday Night! https://t.co/Y0B2P2YCFN

— Mark Popinchalk (@MarkPopinchalk) October 9, 2024

Last week, the sun fired off a massive X9.05 solar flare... 

"Today's incredible X9.0-class solar flare, the most intense flare since 2017. An Earth-directed solar storm is highly likely, given the spot region is faced directly at Earth," Space Weather Watch wrote on X. 

All this solar activity comes as Solar Cycle 25 has reached a maximum period. 

Last year, we pointed out that Cycle 25 is expected to peak sometime in 2025. 

• Solar Cycle 25's Maximum Might Arrive Earlier And Hit Harder

It was noted that the 'first traces' of Solar Cycle 26 had been detected. 

In early May, one of the most powerful solar storms in years blasted Earth. Fortunately, the digital economy held up, and Starlink's massive satellite constellation also survived. 

• US Power Grid & Communication Networks Survive Extreme Geomagnetic Storm

Remember, we've outlined for years how fragile modern society has become in a solar maximum period of heightened Earth-facing space weather. 

• Digital Economy Disruption Possible As "Terminator Event" Suggests Strongest Sunspot Cycle On Record Imminent

• The Next Big Geomagnetic Storm Poses An Astronomical Risk To Modern Man

•  Solar Storms Can Devastate Entire Civilizations.

• Solar Storms Present Danger Of Blackouts For Major East Coast Cities

• Washington DC Most Vulnerable US City For Grid Failure During Geomagnetic Storm

Hurricanes, solar storms, and the looming threats of World War III in the Middle East and Eastern Europe—what a time to be alive.