A coronal mass ejection (CME) hit Earth’s magnetic field – K index rising, watch for auroras!!!

A coronal mass ejection (CME) hit Earth’s magnetic field at approximately 2145 UTC on Nov. 28th. The impact was relatively weak and did not spark a strong geomagnetic storm yet. Kp index is at level 4.

Solar wind
speed: 474.8 km/sec
density: 0.4 protons/cm³

Planetary K-index
Now: Kp= 0 quiet
24-hr max: Kp= 4 quiet

Interplanetary Mag. Field
B_total: 11.6 nT
B_z: 1 nT south 

The Radio Sun
10.7 cm flux: 135 sfu

Just before 21:30 UTC, the ACE Spacecraft detected a sudden Solar Wind Increase to near 550 km/s. This signals the arrival of the Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) sweeping past the spacecraft. A sudden impulse measuring 45nT was detected at 21:54 UTC. The K-Index is rising, it’s a sign for possible geomagnetic storm conditions.

A sharp pulse seen by the ACE spacecraft may herald the beginning of a geomagnetic disturbance. The pulse occurred just after 2100 UTC (4 p.m. EST), and as yet both solar wind speed and magnetic field strength, though elevated and enhanced, are not indicating significant imminent geomagnetic storm activity. (NOAA/SWPC)

Nov 28 2158 UTC ALERT: Geomagnetic K-index of 4

CME FORECAST TRACK

 

 

Here is the prediction of storm intensity for the next few minutes (the higher the Kp number, the larger the Aurora):

The Space Environment Center’s Neural Net Program Estimates that . . .

in 5 minutes, the Geomagnetic Activity level (Kp number) will be 5 — Very Active.
in 17 minutes, the Geomagnetic Activity level (Kp number) will be 4.67 — Very Active.
in 33 minutes, the Geomagnetic Activity level (Kp number) will be 4.33 — Active.

Watch aurora at EarthCam (Reykjavik, Iceland)