SEVERE GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH: A CME is heading straight for Earth–see below. NASA and NOAA models agree that it will strike Earth on June 1st. The impact could spark a severe (G4-class) geomagnetic storm with auroras visible across Europe and many US states. This won’t be as big as the famous May 2024 storm, but it could be one of the bigger events of Solar Cycle 25 if a severe storm materializes. CME impact alerts: SMS Text

MAJOR SOLAR FLARE AND HALO CME: Big old sunspot 4100 finally exploded–and it was a doozy. On May 31st at 00:05 UTC, Earth-orbiting satellites detected an M8.2-class solar flare. The explosion lasted more than 3 hours:

A long-duration M8.2-class solar flare recorded by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory

Although the flare was not technically X-class, it was close. Moreover, it was a slow explosion with lots of power “under the curve.” The blast was able to lift a massive CME out of the sun’s atmosphere.

Indeed, shortly after the flare, SOHO coronagraphs recorded a bright halo CME heading directly for our planet:

This is a very fast-moving CME. Type II radio emissions from shock waves within the cloud suggest it is traveling 1,938 km/s or 4.3 million mph. When it strikes Earth, the CME could spark severe geomagnetic storms with auroras at mid- to low latitudes. Stay tuned! CME impact alerts: SMS Text