November 11, 2025
2 minute read
Powerful solar storm could cause far-reaching auroras across the US
The sun just produced several coronal mass ejections that could trigger a major solar storm on Wednesday.
A powerful solar storm can cause a spark auroras on Wednesday as far as northern California and Alabama, thanks to a particularly stormy region on the Sun dubbed active region 4274 (AR4274). There have been numerous outbreaks in the region in recent days, including solar flare it counts one of the most powerful in the current solar cycle.
This spectacular flash of light was followed by a coronal mass ejection, or CME, an event in which the Sun ejects a giant cloud of magnetized plasma into space. If Earth finds itself in the CME's line of fire, it could cause damage to our planet through a variety of phenomena called space weather. AR4274 is oriented so that its material is moving toward Earth—at about 3.3 million miles per hour, no less. Along the way, it could catch up and join forces with the two previous, slower CMEs that occurred on Sunday and Monday.
In response to the flares, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center issued a G4 geomagnetic storm warning for Wednesday, the fourth such warning in the current solar cycle. The scale of this system ranges from one to five, with the G4 being considered a “serious” watch. An event of this magnitude could cause potential interference with power grids, spacecraft, satellite navigation and radio communications.
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These effects mean that, like terrestrial weather forecastSpace weather forecasting was considered a critical activity that continued even during the federal government shutdown.
Unfortunately for aurora watchers, peak activity is expected during daytime in North America, when any auroral activity will be invisible.
Geomagnetic instability is expected to continue into Thursday at G3, or strong, levels, which could cause auroras as far south as Illinois and Oregon.
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