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A geomagnetic disturbance that commenced Monday (Jan. 19) has created extensive aurora displays across the Northern Hemisphere, especially in Europe. (This image was taken in China’s Heilongjiang Province.)(Image credit: Chi Shiyong/VCG via Getty Images)ShareShare by:
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A “severe” and unparalleled geomagnetic disruption impacted Earth’s magnetic field last night, shortly after the sun unleashed a potent X-class solar emission. The significant occurrence, initiated by a flux of ultra-fast solar particles, produced broad auroras at unusually southern latitudes within the Northern Hemisphere, notably in Europe.
Certain news sources have indicated that the disturbance is the “biggest” of its kind since 2003; however, this is an overstatement (the “Mother’s Day storm” of May 2024 was considerably more intense). Nevertheless, the latest surge has surpassed a particular 23-year-old solar radiation milestone.
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Geomagnetic activity initially peaked at 2:38 p.m. EST, at which point the tempest attained G4 (“severe”) designation, as indicated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC). The storm diminished marginally before reaching G4 designation again at 3:23 a.m. EST on Tuesday (Jan. 20), according to a separate SWPC statement.
G4 represents the second-highest classification a geomagnetic disturbance can achieve. Under such conditions, solar radiation may induce transient radio blackouts, disrupt or impair orbiting spacecraft, and influence certain ground-based systems. Nevertheless, it remains too premature to determine the particular consequences of this disturbance, if any.
The CME that impacted Earth was unleashed by an X-class solar emission on Sunday (Jan. 18).
There were widespread aurora displays spanning the U.K. and regions of Europe — including France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Croatia — where the sun had already descended before the disturbance peaked, according to Spaceweather.com.
Specialists had projected that as many as 24 U.S. states would witness auroras during the disturbance, as per Space.com. It remains uncertain whether this actually transpired, particularly given that the storm’s primary peak occurred before nightfall in North America. However, skywatchers located as far south as Alabama, Georgia, New Mexico, and California reported observing auroras throughout the night, according to Spaceweather.com.
Further auroras are conceivable tonight, according to Space.com’s most recent aurora prediction. However, the disturbance is not anticipated to re-intensify to G4 designation.
Image 1 of 3
Vibrant red auroras were observed above Austria’s capital, Vienna, on Jan. 19.(Image credit: MAX SLOVENCIK / APA / AFP via Getty Images)
Skywatchers in western France were graced with some spectacular green auroras.(Image credit: Oscar Chuberre / AFP via Getty Images)
Auroras were furthermore observed illuminating above Berlin.(Image credit: Florian Gaertner/Photothek via Getty Images)A 23-year record
Notwithstanding certain initial accounts, last night’s presentation was not the most significant geomagnetic disturbance of the past two decades. That designation belongs to the “Mother’s Day storm” of May 2024, which reached G5 (“extreme”) categorization for the first occasion since the notorious “Halloween solar storms” of 2003.
The 2024 tempest was instigated by at least five consecutive CMEs that erupted from an exceptionally energetic sunspot, saturating the higher atmosphere with radiation for three days. This resulted in some of the most pervasive auroras in centuries and momentarily altered the “radiation belts” surrounding our globe.
However, while the recent disturbance did not achieve the magnitude of 2024’s phenomenon, it was among the most potent “solar radiation storms” on record.
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The expression solar radiation storm pertains to a solar outpouring, like a CME, as it traverses through the cosmos, rather than the specific consequence it imposes on our world. Substantial radiation storms frequently precipitate powerful geomagnetic disturbances, yet other variables influence how Earth’s magnetic field will react, such as the positioning of the arriving radiation and its magnetic structure.
The solar radiation storm that kindled last night’s auroras reached S4 (“severe”) grading — analogous to G4 on the solar radiation storm echelon. This represents the inaugural instance of this occurrence since 2003’s Halloween storms, SWPC representatives indicated on the social platform X.
Harry BakerSocial Links NavigationSenior Staff Writer
Harry is a U.K.-based senior staff writer for Live Science. He pursued marine biology at the University of Exeter before preparing to function as a journalist. He addresses a vast assortment of topics including space research, planetary science, space climatology, climate shift, animal conduct, and paleontology. His recent efforts on the solar maximum secured “best space submission” at the 2024 Aerospace Media Awards and was shortlisted in the “top scoop” category at the NCTJ Awards for Excellence in 2023. He also composes Live Science’s weekly Earth from space series.
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