Earth-ward CME from X-class flare could spark auroras within 24 hours

An X1.9 solar flare from the Sun triggered a fast Earth-directed coronal mass ejection (CME) forecast to reach Earth within about 24 hours. If the CME’s magnetic orientation (Bz) is southward, it could couple with Earth’s magnetosphere and drive strong (G3) to severe (G4) geomagnetic storm conditions, potentially lighting up auroras as far south as parts of the U.S. (e.g., Northern California to Alabama). Forecasters caution that CME arrivals are hard to pin down and depend on magnetic orientation; disruptions to satellites, GPS, and radio signals and increased atmospheric drag on spacecraft are possible alongside spectacular auroral displays depending on the event’s exact geometry and timing.