A solar flare ejected a cloud of plasma toward Earth.
The strongest flare of the current activity surge—an M7.0 class event accompanied by a visible plasma ejection into space—has been recorded on the Sun. It appears that at least the edge of the plasma cloud is striking Earth, although the main front might still pass below the planet. While the flares are intensifying, they remain below the X-class threshold (the highest category); consequently, the geomagnetic impact is unlikely to exceed G3 (a strong storm, level 3 on a 5-point scale). This could prove to be the strongest magnetic storm in one or two months, but nothing more severe.
There are currently no precise models or mathematical forecasts available, as relatively little time—about an hour and a half—has elapsed since the event (the peak occurred at 10:02 UTC. Further information will follow. The key question now is whether another eruption will occur and if it will cross the X-class threshold.