Severe solar storm alert: NASA tracks CME as NOAA upgrades G4 geomagnetic storm
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center said a severe geomagnetic storm hit the agency’s G4 level early Tuesday, with storm conditions logged at 3:23 a.m. and again at 5:21 a.m. Eastern time. Why it matters now: NOAA said a severe S4 solar radiation storm was also under way, a rare category that can raise radiation exposure risk for astronauts and for flights that use polar routes. It also cited higher risk for satellites and space launch systems and potential loss of over-the-horizon high-frequency radio links in polar regions.