Here we go! And I was beginning to wonder if my alert subscription to the Space Weather Prediction Center was actually working…
For context, sunspots and solar storms seem to rise and fall on an 11 year cycle. We are entering the 25th solar cycle since we began recording them in 1755. Solar activity is predicted to hit a maximum in about 2025, although this ‘maximum’ isn’t supposed to be as strong as some other cycles. Warnings like this will become more common over the next three to four years.
Do you need to worry? Nah, not yet, unless you operate a satellite in a near-polar orbit. Enjoy the aurora.
Space Weather Message Code: ALTK07 Serial Number: 115 Issue Time: 2021 May 12 1259 UTC ALERT: Geomagnetic K-index of 7 Threshold Reached: 2021 May 12 1258 UTC Synoptic Period: 1200-1500 UTC Active Warning: Yes NOAA Scale: G3 - Strong NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 50 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude. Induced Currents - Power system voltage irregularities possible, false alarms may be triggered on some protection devices. Spacecraft - Systems may experience surface charging; increased drag on low Earth-orbit satellites and orientation problems may occur. Navigation - Intermittent satellite navigation (GPS) problems, including loss-of-lock and increased range error may occur. Radio - HF (high frequency) radio may be intermittent. Aurora - Aurora may be seen as low as Pennsylvania to Iowa to Oregon.