As if things weren't bad enough! A huge solar storm is due to hit Earth at 5pm TODAY that could cause havoc for power grids - with possible Northern Lights displays in New York and the north of England

dailymail.co.uk ^ | October 11, 2021 | Jonathan Chadwick

[elpadre]

A powerful solar storm is due to hit Earth today and could cause havoc for power grids, weather agencies have warned.

The UK's Met Office and the US's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have forecasted a coronal mass ejection (CME) – a massive expulsion of plasma from the Sun's corona (its outermost layer) at around 12pm EST (5pm BST) today.

Possible effects of the solar storm, caused by the CME, are power grid fluctuations and orientation irregularities for spacecraft in the form of 'increased drag' on low-Earth orbiters.

The aurora – a natural light display in Earth's sky, also known as the Northern Lights – may also be visible as low as New York in the US and the north of England in the UK. The storm comes as the National Grid warned the gap between energy supply and demand this year is likely to be at its lowest level for six years. The organisation said it was confident blackouts can be avoided, but warned it was possible if 'we have a very cold winter'. A solar or geomagnetic storm is a major disturbance of Earth's magnetosphere – the area around Earth controlled by the planet's magnetic field – caused by CMEs.

Today's solar storm is forecasted at around 12pm ET, or about 5pm BST.

[elpadre]

“Today’s solar storm is forecasted at around 12pm ET, or about 5pm BST.”

[blueunicorn6]

The solar storm ate my homework.

[right way right]

I’m excited.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

Man it's crazy out there! Housewives were lined up outside the Publix and around the parking lot. Inside they were brawling in the paper goods isle, fighting over the last few rolls of tin foil. Crazy! Cat fighting, hair pulling, the works! You'd think a hurricane was coming. < /sarc >

[blueunicorn6]

The solar storm ate Joe Biden’s brain.

[usual suspect]

Fill up the gas tank and your pantry...

[VanShuyten]

T minus 12, and counting……

[Magnum44]

[right way right]

Solar storm gave me covid.

Let’s go Brandon.

Every day is another shoes dropping.

[who knows what evil?]

Southwest picked a good day to take off...

[right way right]

That’s me waiting for the decertification of the election.
It’s been rough but I just know it’s happening any day now.

[qam1]

may also be visible as low as New York in the US and the north of England in the UK.

New York City is roughly 40°N but even if we are talking about upstate, the Northernmost parts are just at 45°N, while London a Southern UK city is roughly 51½°N.

So if the Auroas are visible all the way down in New York, all of England and most of Europe should also be able to see them, not just Northern England.

[Tell It Right]

Al Gore to us: I told yall we were all gonna burn up soon!
Al Gore to his masseuse: The stress of the global warming is killing me. Can you rub a little lower?
Masseuse to Al Gore: You don't have enough money to pay for it. Tiffany took it the last time you tried this.

[cgbg]

Brandon is gonna wave his magic cane and shout nasty names at the CRE and it will go away.

2021 is the year “follow the science” became “follow the magic”.

[Seruzawa]

[rockabyebaby]

OMG OMG OMG we’re all gonna die, OMG!

[MHGinTN]

“Well its a jungle out there; no one seems to care, but I do. Its a mazing.”

[FreedomPoster]

On the same day Ghislaine Maxwell’s co-conspirators are supposed to be publicly named? CONVENIENT!

< /s>, and just kidding. I think.

[Reno89519]

Any milk, eggs, and bread left?