The space weather tracking body of the US government has warned that a geomagnetic storm is set to hit the Earth on September 26 and it is likely to affect satellites and electricity grids. It is to be noted that the geomagnetic storm is different from a solar storm and it is caused by the solar wind.

The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a Geomagnetic Storm Watch for Sunday (September 26). The SWPC has warned about the possibility of G1 or G2-level storm.

A geomagnetic storm is a disturbance of magnetosphere of Earth and it takes place after an exchange of energy from the solar wind into the space environment surrounding Earth. The SWPC has said that the largest storms that result from these conditions are associated with solar coronal mass ejections (CMEs). 

According to SWPC, the area of impact of the geomagnetic storm could primarily be poleward of 60 degrees geomagnetic latitude and it is likely to cause power grid fluctuations and may impact satellites. The SWPC also saod that the aurora could also be caused by geomagnetic storm and the aurora might be visible at high latitudes, such as the northern tier of the US such as northern Michigan and Maine.

It is to be noted that G1 and G2 are Minor and Moderate level storms, which means that they would not cause any major damage. A G2 level storm can cause voltage alarms and transformer damage in high-latitude power systems. Notably, a G1 level storm is capable of causing a minor impact on satellite operations.

As per a WeatherBoy report, “Isolated G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storming is likely 26 September as a positive polarity CH HSS extension from the Northern crown becomes geoeffective.”