Earth Braces for Severe Geomagnetic Impact

A rare G4 geomagnetic storm watch has been issued following a powerful X5.1-class solar flare and a fast-moving coronal mass ejection (CME) from sunspot AR4274. The flare, which peaked early Tuesday morning, is the strongest of 2025 and part of an unusual three-day streak of X-class activity.

The CME is racing toward Earth at 1,400 km/s, and forecasters won’t know its full intensity until it reaches solar wind observatories about 1 million miles from Earth — leaving less than an hour to prepare once detected.

If the storm escalates to G5 (Extreme), it could disrupt power grids, satellites, and communications. Some models suggest this event may reach that threshold, though scientists remain cautious.

“The intensity of the CME will not be known with better certainty until it arrives 1 million miles from Earth and is observed by the solar wind observatories,” said the SWPC.

For now, the world watches and waits — hoping this solar storm proves less severe than feared.