Solar Storm Warning: Severe (G4) Geomagnetic Storm - New Update: Another Storm Forecast for Wednesday Night/Thursday (+Video)

G4 ALERT: ANOTHER STORM REACHES SEVERE LEVELS
The geomagnetic storm began as forecasted and quickly ramped up to severe (G4)  levels.  SWPC issued the G4 Alert at 1858 UT (2:58 pm EDT), after the storm slammed into Earth at 1839 UT (2:39 pm EDT). This is the same intensity level reached in March, 2015 during the St. Patrick’s Day storm.  This is the very early stages of an event that will play out over many hours, with SWPC forecasting continuing storm level intensities into tomorrow.  In Europe watchers should be looking for the aurora now and there is hope for those over the US tonight. http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/g4-alert-another-storm-reaches-severe-levels

G4 (Severe) Geomagnetic Storm Impacts

Power systems: Possible widespread voltage control problems and some protective systems will mistakenly trip out key assets from the grid.
Spacecraft operations: May experience surface charging and tracking problems, corrections may be needed for orientation problems.
Other systems: Induced pipeline currents affect preventive measures, HF radio propagation sporadic, satellite navigation degraded for hours, low-frequency radio navigation disrupted, and aurora has been seen as low as Alabama and northern California (typically 45° geomagnetic lat.). http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/

A solar flare reaching above M6 level was detected on Monday afternoon beginning around 17:40 UTC. The source, sunspot 2371 is in a good geoeffective position for Earth directed eruptions.
http://www.solarham.net/

EARTH-DIRECTED SOLAR FLARE, RADIO BLACKOUT: Sunspot AR2371 has erupted again, producing a strong M6.5 class solar flare. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured the flare’s extreme ultraviolet flash on June 22nd at 18:23 UT

X-ray and UV radiation from the flare ionized the upper layers of Earth’s atmosphere, producing a moderately-strong blackout of shortwave and low-frequency radio signals over North America. The North American blackout is subsiding now. An even deeper radio blackout is still underway around both of Earth’s poles. This is due to solar protons and electrons being funneled into the polar regions by Earth’s magnetic field.   http://spaceweather.com/

JUNE 23, 2015  
ANOTHER STORM FORECAST FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT/THURSDAY

GEOMAGNETIC STORMING REACHES G4 (SEVERE) LEVELS 
On Tuesday Morning

The geomagnetic storm that began on 22 June has reached G4 (Severe) levels once again as of 0513 UTC (0113 EDT) on 23 June.

Solar wind conditions remain highly favorable for continued Strong Geomagnetic storming, with both fast solar wind and strong magnetic fields.  Solar Wind Speed: 664 km/sec 
Aurora watchers in North America, especially northern tier states of the US, should stay alert.
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/geomagnetic-storming-reaches-g4-severe-levels

ANOTHER STORM FORECAST FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT/THURSDAY

The coronal mass ejection that erupted June 22 in conjunction with the R2 solar flare has been modeled and arrival is expected June 24 at 2300 UT  (7 pm EDT).  This timing bodes well for aurora watchers in North America.  As for the expected intensity, SWPC is continuing to analyze the event and will update the forecast when this analysis is complete. http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/another-storm-forecast-wednesday-nightthursday

Image credit: NOOA / SPACE WEATHER PREDICTION CENTER