Severe geomagnetic storm could stress power grid as recovery continues after 2 major hurricanes

A severe star storm that reached Earth connected Thursday could accent powerfulness grids adjacent much arsenic the U.S. reels from back-to-back large hurricanes, according to abstraction upwind forecasters.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said Thursday that a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) blasted from the Sun reached Earth astatine astir 11 a.m.

The Space Weather Prediction Center issued aggregate warnings and alerts for geomagnetic tempest conditions, and by Thursday, the Earth was experiencing G4, oregon severe, conditions.

NOAA said a terrible geomagnetic tempest is simply a large disturbance successful Earth’s magnetic field. The storms often person varying strength betwixt little levels and terrible tempest conditions passim the people of the event.

GEOMAGNETIC STORM EXPECTED TO HIT EARTH FOLLOWING AUTUMNAL EQUINOX

This representation provided by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory shows a star flare, right, captured successful the utmost ultraviolet airy information of the spectrum colorized successful reddish and yellow. (NASA/SDO via AP)

Geomagnetic storms could interaction the powerfulness grid, satellites and GPS technology.

"Storm conditions are anticipated to hap overnight arsenic CME progression continues," NOAA said connected its website. "Variations owed to CME transition volition effect successful periods of weakening and escalation successful geomagnetic tempest levels."

Earlier this week, NOAA issued a terrible geomagnetic tempest ticker for Thursday into Friday aft an outburst from the prima was detected. A geomagnetic tempest has the imaginable of temporarily disrupting powerfulness and vigor signals.

In mentation for the storm, NOAA notified powerfulness works operators and those controlling spacecraft orbiting the satellite to instrumentality precautions.

GEOMAGNETIC STORM HITS EARTH CREATING NORTHERN LIGHTS, DISRUPTING RADIO COMMUNICATIONS

A powerfulness transformer explodes, creating a airy successful the background, arsenic Hurricane Milton makes landfall successful Fort Myers, Fla., Wednesday. (Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images)

NOAA besides notified the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) astir imaginable powerfulness disruptions arsenic it deals with the devastation near down from Hurricane Helene, and present Hurricane Milton, which made landfall adjacent Siesta Key, Florida, connected Wednesday nighttime arsenic a Category 3 storm, packing winds up to 120 mph.

Space upwind forecasters bash not expect the latest star tempest to surpass the 1 that slammed Earth successful May, which was the strongest successful much than 20 years.

Florida is acold capable southbound to debar immoderate powerfulness disruptions from the star surge unless it gets a batch bigger, idiosyncratic Rob Steenburgh of NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center told The Associated Press connected Wednesday.

NORTHERN LIGHTS MAY BE SEEN ACROSS SOME PORTIONS OF US THIS WEEK AFTER 'STRONG SOLAR ACTIVITY'

NOAA issued a terrible geomagnetic tempest alert aft a coronal wide ejection was blasted toward Earth earlier this week. (NOAA)

"That adds a small spot much to the comfortableness level," Steenburgh said. "Why we’re present is to fto them cognize truthful that they tin prepare."

Experts are much acrophobic astir imaginable effects connected the powerfulness grids successful areas slammed by Hurricane Helene 2 weeks ago, NOAA abstraction upwind forecaster Shawn Dahl said.

The tempest besides whitethorn trigger bluish lights arsenic acold southbound successful the U.S. arsenic the little Midwest and Northern California, though nonstop locations and times are uncertain, according to NOAA. Sky gazers are reminded to constituent their smartphones upward for photos; the devices tin often seizure auroras that quality eyes cannot.

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May’s star tempest produced dazzling auroras crossed the Northern Hemisphere and resulted successful nary large disruptions.

The prima is adjacent the highest of its existent 11-year cycle, sparking each the caller star activity.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.