Weather
New York-Idaho Aurora Alert: G2 Storm Hits Earth Oct 10-11
UNITED STATES – A geomagnetic storm is affecting Earth's magnetic environment Saturday, October 10, after a solar eruption reached the planet, prompting federal forecasters to issue a moderate G2 stor
By Cole Barrett · 2026-10-10T16:27:33.360Z
UNITED STATES – A geomagnetic storm is affecting Earth's magnetic environment Saturday, October 10, after a solar eruption reached the planet, prompting federal forecasters to issue a moderate G2 storm warning that remains in effect through tonight.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center SWPC , a coronal mass ejection CME arrived at Earth Saturday, with its signature first detected in the solar wind at 14:34 UTC, or 10:34 a.m. Eastern.
Scientists subsequently recorded a sudden impulse measuring 56 nanoteslas at the Niemegk geomagnetic observatory in Germany at 15:16 UTC, confirming a significant disturbance in Earth's magnetic environment.
Northern Lights Could Reach Farther South NOAA officials say the storm could push the northern lights farther south than usual, potentially making auroras visible across northern portions of the United States Saturday night.
Under favorable conditions, aurora visibility could extend as far south as northern New York and portions of Idaho.
Residents hoping to see the northern lights should seek dark locations away from city lighting, preferably with clear skies and an unobstructed view of the northern horizon.
Visibility is not guaranteed and will depend on cloud cover, local darkness and the storm's actual intensity.
Power Grid and Satellite Operators Monitoring Conditions A G2 geomagnetic storm is classified as moderate on NOAA's five level space weather scale.
At this intensity, some power grid operators may experience manageable voltage fluctuations, while satellite operators could encounter minor operational effects.
NOAA says the storm's intensity may fluctuate as changing solar wind conditions produce periods of strengthening or weakening geomagnetic activity.
The agency's G2 storm warning remains valid through 23:59 UTC Saturday, equivalent to 7:59 p.m. Eastern or 6:59 p.m. Central.
Residents can monitor updated forecasts and aurora predictions through NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center at swpc.noaa.gov .