Solar Radiation Storm in Progress - Above S3 (Strong)-may disrupt power Thursday

[sharon sanders]

2012-03-07 15:18 UTC Solar Radiation and Geomagnetic Storms Continue
The CME that erupted late on March 4 passed ACE around 0400 UTC March 7 (11:00 p.m. EST March 6). As a result, storming reaching the G2 (Moderate) level continues at this time. Another CME, part of the recent R3 (Strong) Radio Blackout event at 0024 UTC March 7 (7:24 p.m. EST March 6) is forecast to pass ACE early morning UTC on March 8 (start of day EST March 8) . Geomagnetic storm periods reaching the G3 (Strong) level are likely from that CME. Finally, a Solar Radiation Storm is also in progress and levels are currently above the S3 (Strong) threshold. Region 1429 remains potent and subsequent activity is certainly possible. Updates here as conditions warrant.
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POES data products will be temporarily unavailable beginning February 29th while SWPC upgrades IT systems. This upgrade will ensure the long term security and robustness of our operations. In the meantime, please refer to the Ovation Auroral Forecast test product which provides similar information to the POES Auroral plots and is also predictive. You can find Ovation at: http://helios.swpc.noaa.gov/ovation.


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GOES Solar X-ray Flux
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[Shiloh]

Re: Solar Radiation Storm in Progress - Above S3 (Strong)-may disrupt power Thursday

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/solar-storm-headed-toward-earth-may-disrupt-power-162508973.html

Solar storm headed toward Earth may disrupt power
By SETH BORENSTEIN | Associated Press ? 1 hr 38 mins ago

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The largest solar storm in five years is racing toward Earth, threatening to unleash a torrent of charged particles that could disrupt power grids, GPS and airplane flights.

The sun erupted Tuesday evening, and the effects should start smacking Earth between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. EST Thursday (0600 GMT and 1000 GMT), according to forecasters at the U.S. government's Space Weather Prediction Center. They say the storm, which started with a massive solar flare, is growing as it speeds outward from the sun.

"It's hitting us right in the nose," said Joe Kunches, a scientist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He called it the sun's version of "Super Tuesday."

Scientists say the sun has been relatively quiet for some time. And this storm, while strong, may seem fiercer because Earth has been lulled by several years of weak solar activity...