Significant Solar Flare To Hit Earth Tonight – Everett Post

The Sun launched a significant coronal mass ejection (solar flare) directed towards Earth that is expected to hit the planet’s magnetic field tonight in Halloween. The National Weather Service Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a geomagnetic storm monitor for the planet.

The effects can include irregularities in the mains voltage and disrupt radio and navigation systems such as GPS. A strong G3 class geomagnetic storm is expected when the solar flare reaches the Earth’s magnetic field in the upper atmosphere. Utilities, communications companies, broadcasters, and others take precautions to protect their systems, however some system disruptions are possible.

This event will also spawn an aurora borealis that occurs over 50 degrees north and will be visible as far as Oregon in the south, meaning it should be visible to the naked eye in the North Sound. Waning clouds are forecast for today (Friday) and through to Halloween weekend. So the chances of seeing the aurora are good.

For more information on this geomagnetic storm and the Aurora Borealis, visit the Space Weather Prediction Center website and follow the action.