Earth hit by strongest magnetic storm in three months
According to the Telegram channel of the Solar Astronomy Laboratory at the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, a G3-level geomagnetic storm has been recorded since around 10:00 p.m. Kazakhstan time.
The last magnetic storm of comparable strength was observed on July 4, 2026.
The storm is accompanied by intense auroras, which are being observed at geographic latitudes of 50 degrees and above.
“The event was caused by plasma clouds reaching Earth after being ejected into space during a strong surge in solar activity observed earlier this week. According to the forecast, the geomagnetic field may remain disturbed for about another 24 hours,” the statement said.
On October 9, the Solar Astronomy Laboratory reported that three plasma clouds ejected by the Sun were moving toward Earth. The first cloud left the Sun on Tuesday, October 6, during an M1.4-class flare. Scientists forecast that it would reach Earth on Friday after 8:00 p.m. Kazakhstan time and trigger a G2-level magnetic storm.
Two more clouds were ejected on October 7 and 8. The latter appeared after the strongest solar flare of this autumn. Specialists expected the two clouds to merge into a single structure on their way to Earth and reach the planet around midday Sunday, triggering a second G2-level magnetic storm.