A major solar flare ejected mass toward Earth

An unexpectedly strong M2.8 solar flare was recorded by multiple solar tracking devices. The peak of the event was observed at 12:15 UTC. The explosion occurred near the center of the solar disk and was accompanied by an obvious ejection of plasma toward Earth. According to space telescope data, a medium-sized prominence located near the epicenter was also destroyed and ejected into space during the flare, which will further increase the mass of the ejected gas.

Information on the speed of the cloud moving toward Earth is currently unavailable. In telescope images, the ejection appears to be fast and should reach the planet in no more than two days, that is, by midday on Wednesday. The event itself is classified as a relatively rare frontal impact—it is likely that the center of the plasma structure will strike Earth. The planet has already experienced one such impact this year: from January 19th to 21st, a storm of close to G5 intensity swept across Earth, accompanied by the strongest radiation storm of the 21st century. However, its source at that time was a much stronger X1.8 event. Such consequences are currently unlikely, but the strongest magnetic storm in two months (predicted level G3) is tentatively expected.

The plasma motion model should be ready today (as soon as the currently missing data from the coronagraphs arrives). The geomagnetic forecast will be available within 24 hours.