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NOAA Issues G3 Storm Watch; Aurora Possible Across U.S.

6/9/2026

Summary

NOAA Issues Storm

NOAA issued a G3 geomagnetic storm watch for June 8, 2026 after a June 6 CME.
Strong G3 conditions are expected 11 a.m.–2 p.m. EDT, with moderate G2 activity 5 p.m.–8 p.m. EDT.
The aurora could reach Illinois and Oregon under G3 and New York and Idaho under G2.
Cloudy skies in Akron, Columbus and Cincinnati may prevent Ohio residents from seeing the aurora.
Observers should find dark, clear northern horizons and let their eyes adjust.

Summary

NOAA Aurora Forecast

NOAA predicts a Kp index of five on Monday, June 8, 2026, allowing auroras in the Lower 48.
The Saturday-launched coronal mass ejection may disrupt satellites in Earth’s orbit, NOAA notes.
MIT astronomer Tim Brothers urges viewers to seek dark fields or coastal areas away from city lights.
National Geographic advises using smartphone night mode and a tripod and lists websites for real-time aurora monitoring.

Summary

NOAA Warns Flare

The M1.8 solar flare on Saturday briefly weakened high-frequency communication bands.
NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center warned that stronger geomagnetic storms could disrupt infrastructure, though mitigation measures exist.
Forecasting the storm’s impact is difficult because the Sun is 93 million miles away and predictions rely on long-term models.
An auroral monitoring tool projects a view line to Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Maryland, with forecasts based on historical trends.

History

Historical Context

On 1 September 1859 English astronomer Richard Carrington and Richard Hodgson observed a white-light solar flare; Balfour Stewart linked it to two abrupt geomagnetic disturbances recorded at Kew Observatory on 28 August and 2 September. The associated CME arrived about 17.5 hours later, disabling telegraph lines across Europe and North America, and NOAA’s G3 alert on 8 June 2026 reminds operators to harden satellites and issue aurora-watch advice.

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NOAA Issues Storm

NOAA issued a G3 geomagnetic storm watch for June 8, 2026 after a June 6 CME.
Strong G3 conditions are expected 11 a.m.–2 p.m. EDT, with moderate G2 activity 5 p.m.–8 p.m. EDT.
The aurora could reach Illinois and Oregon under G3 and New York and Idaho under G2.
Cloudy skies in Akron, Columbus and Cincinnati may prevent Ohio residents from seeing the aurora.
Observers should find dark, clear northern horizons and let their eyes adjust.

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