Thanks Red Badger.
Posted on 02/16/2023 9:49:06 AM PST by Red Badger
A huge solar storm will strike Earth on Thursday, potentially disrupting power grids and pushing the aurora as far south as Michigan and Maine.
Alerts issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration early Thursday morning ranked as a K-5 index (out of 9). A ranking of five or above is needed for the administration to issue an alert for upcoming solar storms.
Minor impacts to satellites, power grid fluctuations and a visible aurora were noted by NOAA. The highest geomagnetic storm category predicted thus far is a G2 storm on Feb. 18, which is considered “moderate” by NOAA’s rating scale. At that point, the aurora might be visible in parts of New York, Wisconsin and the state of Washington.
Power fluctuations are likely to occur further north Saturday, with high-latitude power systems experiencing voltage alarms, as well as issues with satellite orientation, NOAA noted.
Details shared online by space weather physicist Tamitha Skov suggested that Earth will take a direct hit starting some time in the afternoon Friday. Amateur radio and GPS reception issues should be anticipated, according to her prediction.
Until just a month ago, most solar storms couldn’t be forecast until a few hours ahead of time. It’s unclear whether NOAA used the latest technology to predict the impending storm. In extreme situations, solar storms have the capability of destroying all electrical equipment on the planet.
Normally I would psh-aw this news, pointing out the usual fear- based sales of web clicks and foolish reporting
But today is different. An infrared aurora broke through our weakened magnetosphere this morning giving an actual (albeit invisible to the naked eye) aurora show.
I said before that if we ever see aurora in the lower 50 states, it’s really bad news.
I think this is something to consider alarming.
That's happened quite a number of times.
Although we have discussed a number of times that if the government is going to pass a $1 trillion infrastructure bill, it would make sense if it was for something like hardening the grid to protect against something like this. Of course it is just spent on pork.
The NOAA link in post 25 says it will hit Friday afternoon.
See how it goes then I guess! The auroras have been spectacular up here lately!
“Hardening the grid” against the power of the sun hasn’t been designed yet.
Backups and contingency is pretty much the only way.
Now, if you were scooting around space in a little craft, you might duck into the atmosphere to protect yourself from the radiation. But now, Joe would start taking shots at you. Joe screws up everything.
Just the part of the earth facing the solar particles. It’s like solar flare roulette.
The sun is in it’s 11 year bad cycle expect many more.
Magnetic field reversing cycle
If this Geomagnetic Storm gets too close to us, will the cows do their job and lay down in time to let us know it is coming?
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