The first noticeable magnetic storm of 2026 could occur as early as the night of January 2-3.

A fairly strong pre-New Year's Eve flare, measuring M7.1, occurred yesterday between 3:12 PM and 2:11 UTC. For regions in the UTC+10 time zone, the flare coincided with the chimes of midnight.

The flare was accompanied by a mass ejection, partially directed toward Earth, which, according to calculations, will trigger the first significant magnetic storm of the year on the night of January 2-3. The storm is predicted to be up to G2 (moderate). There is a 30% chance of a strong storm of G3 or higher.

New Year's Eve in all regions of the country passed under conditions of low geomagnetic activity, despite adverse external factors, including the ongoing impact of one of the coronal holes on the planet. From midnight to 5 a.m. UTC, weak auroras formed at latitudes of 65–75 degrees, but due to cloud cover, they were virtually impossible to see. The hole's continued activity could lead to additional geomagnetic disturbances in the coming days.

The global geomagnetic forecast for the New Year holidays is currently quite favorable. With the exception of the coming days, the first half of the month is predominantly green with occasional yellow tones. Only new strong flares could change this forecast. Those who are still upset by this news can recall what January 1st, 2025, looked like.