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  4. Geomagnetic Storms
Last 30 Days

Geomagnetic Storms

View recent geomagnetic storm events caused by solar wind disturbances. Storms are measured by the Kp index and can produce auroras and affect technology.

About Geomagnetic Storms

Geomagnetic storms are temporary disturbances of Earth's magnetosphere caused by interactions with the solar wind, typically following the arrival of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) or high-speed solar wind streams from coronal holes. Storms are measured using the planetary K-index (Kp), which ranges from 0 (very quiet) to 9 (extremely disturbed). The NOAA G-scale classifies storms from G1 (Minor, Kp=5) through G5 (Extreme, Kp=9). A G1 storm may cause weak power grid fluctuations and minor satellite effects, while a G5 storm can cause widespread power outages, damage to transformers, complete HF radio blackout, and satellite navigation errors lasting days. Geomagnetic storms also produce aurora borealis (Northern Lights) and aurora australis (Southern Lights). During G3+ storms, auroras become visible at mid-latitudes, and during extreme G5 events, they can be seen as far south as Florida and Texas.

Start TimeMax Kp IndexClassificationKp ReadingsLinked EventsLink
Mar 22, 2026 09:00
6 days ago
6.67G2 - Moderate
6.67 (NOAA)6 (NOAA)6.67 (NOAA)6.33 (NOAA)6.33 (NOAA)
1 event(s)NASA
Mar 20, 2026 18:00
8 days ago
7G3 - Strong
5.67 (NOAA)6.67 (NOAA)7 (NOAA)6 (NOAA)
3 event(s)NASA
Mar 13, 2026 21:00
15 days ago
6G2 - Moderate
5.67 (NOAA)5.67 (NOAA)6 (NOAA)
2 event(s)NASA

Frequently Asked Questions About Geomagnetic Storms

What is the Kp index?+
The Kp index (planetary K index) is a scale from 0 to 9 that quantifies disturbances in Earth's magnetic field. It is derived from ground-based magnetometer readings taken at 13 geomagnetic observatories around the world. Kp values of 0-1 indicate very quiet conditions, 2-3 are unsettled, 4 is active, and 5-9 correspond to geomagnetic storms of increasing severity (G1 through G5 on the NOAA storm scale).
Where can I see the aurora during a geomagnetic storm?+
During minor G1 storms (Kp=5), auroras are typically visible at high latitudes (above 60 degrees). G2-G3 storms push the aurora oval to about 50-55 degrees latitude. During severe G4 storms, auroras may be visible at 45 degrees (e.g., Portland, Montreal). In extreme G5 events, auroras have been reported as far south as 30 degrees latitude (Florida, Texas, southern Europe).
How long do geomagnetic storms last?+
Geomagnetic storms can last anywhere from a few hours to several days. The initial main phase, when the Kp index is highest, typically lasts 6-12 hours. The recovery phase, during which conditions gradually return to normal, can take 1-3 days for moderate storms and up to a week for extreme events. Multiple CME arrivals can extend storm conditions.

Related Pages

Solar Dashboard

Overview of all solar activity

Solar Flares

Source flare data

CME Events

Source CME data

Earth from Space

See Earth during storms

Glossary

Space weather terms