BOULDER, Colo. – A strong G3 geomagnetic storm is currently impacting Earth’s magnetic field, raising the risk of GPS and telecommunications disruptions across North America and northern Europe early Thursday, according to the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC).
The storm reached G3 strength at 12:27 a.m. CST (0527 UTC) following a coronal mass ejection (CME) that struck Earth’s magnetic field earlier in the day. NOAA says the elevated geomagnetic response is expected to persist through 6 a.m. CST (1200 UTC), with possible impacts on navigation systems, satellite operations, and shortwave radio communications.
Infrastructure and power grid operators have been alerted to mitigate minor voltage fluctuations, particularly at higher latitudes. “Intermittent GPS degradation and signal loss are possible,” NOAA warned, adding that commercial aviation and maritime operations could experience navigation or communication interruptions during peak activity.
The storm is also producing a vivid aurora display, potentially visible as far south as the northern Great Lakes, upper Midwest, and interior New England if skies remain clear overnight.
Experts recommend monitoring NOAA’s SWPC dashboard for real-time updates and avoiding reliance on GPS-only navigation in affected areas until the storm subsides.
