Alert: First Geomagnetic Storm This Week

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a warning about a strong geomagnetic storm which is a big disturbance in Earth's magnetic field caused by solar activity. 

This warning which is the first in nearly twenty years alerts us that electronic systems like power grids, communication networks and satellites could be affected.

NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) noticed a powerful solar storm brewing since May 8. They expect it to hit Earth on May 10 possibly lasting through the weekend. 

The storm comes from solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) basically big bursts of energy and magnetic fields from the sun.

These storms pose risks to many things including satellites, navigation systems, and power grids. There's even a chance of internet outages. 

But the storm could also bring beautiful auroras visible even in places like Alabama and Northern California.

This warning reminds us of a similar event in 2005 when a sudden and severe storm caused big disruptions to communication systems. 

NOAA is taking steps to protect vulnerable systems and has informed operators to be ready.