Solar Storms are predicted to occur in early February because of two large coronal holes in the Sun’s atmosphere.
Coronal holes are regions where the Sun’s magnetic field opens up, allowing high-speed solar winds to escape into space.
These areas appear darker in ultraviolet images because they lack plasma, which streams outward along magnetic field lines.
A larger coronal hole is located in the Sun’s Northern Hemisphere, while a smaller one is in the Southern Hemisphere. The larger hole is expected to have a more significant impact on Earth.
High-speed solar winds from these holes are anticipated to reach Earth by January 31, potentially triggering minor geomagnetic storms (classified as G1 on NOAA’s five-level scale).
These storms may enhance auroras, making them visible in northern latitudes and possibly as far south as the Upper Midwest in the U.S..
The solar wind speeds emanating from the larger coronal hole are estimated to exceed 310 miles per second.
NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) forecasts active geomagnetic conditions between February 1 and 3, with a possibility of minor G1 storm levels during this period.
Due to the Sun’s 27-day rotation, if Earth experiences effects from these coronal holes now, there is a possibility of similar solar storm impacts when these regions rotate back into alignment with Earth later in February.
While these solar storms are considered minor and unlikely to cause significant disruptions, they can intensify auroral displays and may slightly affect satellite communications or power grids at high latitudes.
Space weather forecasters will continue monitoring these recent developments closely.
Geomagnetic storms caused by coronal holes are often classified as minor to moderate (G1-G2 on the NOAA scale).
The storms can last several days and are more common during periods of solar minimum when coronal holes are more prevalent.
Comparison with CMEs
In contrast, coronal mass ejections (CMEs) tend to produce more intense and immediate geomagnetic storms compared to those generated by coronal holes.
CMEs can lead to severe storms (G4-G5), which occur less frequently but have much greater impacts on Earth’s magnetosphere.
