WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) issued a geomagnetic storm watch on Sunday, March 24th. This is the result of a coronal mass ejection (CME), commonly referred to as a “solar flare,” observed on March 23rd.
It was not certain if the CME mass would impact the earth and, if so, how much. The resulting geomagnetic storms were estimated to reach G2, “moderate,” and/or G3, “strong,” strength. But the watch statement said the storms were being measured within the G4, “severe,” range.
The 23 March CME arrived at around 24/1411 UTC (7am, March 24th, local time). Severe (G4) geomagnetic storming has been observed and is expected to continue through the remainder of the 24 March-UTC day and into the first half of 25 March. NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (March 24, 2024)
While such disturbances of the Earth’s magnetic field are responsible for the aurora borealis appearing in regions further south than normal, the forecast is for a low probability of visibility for those below the 49th parallel (US-Canada border).
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