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NOAA Warns G3 Storm, Auroras & Grid Disruptions Mid-June

6/5/2026

Summary

NOAA Storm Watch

NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center issued a G3 geomagnetic storm watch for June 4-5 2026, warning of auroras.
Three CMEs from sunspot region 4455—including M9.3, M7.7 and X1-class flares—may merge into a “cannibal CME” and hit Earth mid-June 4 to June 5.
The storm could produce auroras as far south as Illinois and Boston, with the best chance in Vermont and New York, and may cause minor power-grid disruptions during 8 p.m.–11 p.m. EDT on June 4.

Summary

Observers Track Aurora

Observers should go to open sites away from city lights that face north.
Scientists warn the aurora visibility line can shift quickly, so skywatchers must check real-time National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) updates.
June’s short, bright nights mean twilight can hide faint auroras, making timing critical.
Washington and parts of Idaho in the Pacific Northwest offer a strong 2026 viewing chance, requiring verification of cloud cover and light pollution.

History

Historical Context

The March 13-14 1989 geomagnetic storm, driven by CMEs on March 10-12, knocked out Hydro-Québec’s grid for nine hours, leaving about six million people without power and registering a Dst of -589 nT. That event, one of the most severe of the Space Age, follows historic storms such as the 1859 Carrington Event, prompting today’s June 2026 NOAA G3 storm watch.

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NOAA Storm Watch

NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center issued a G3 geomagnetic storm watch for June 4-5 2026, warning of auroras.
Three CMEs from sunspot region 4455—including M9.3, M7.7 and X1-class flares—may merge into a “cannibal CME” and hit Earth mid-June 4 to June 5.
The storm could produce auroras as far south as Illinois and Boston, with the best chance in Vermont and New York, and may cause minor power-grid disruptions during 8 p.m.–11 p.m. EDT on June 4.

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