A powerful geomagnetic storm is impacting Earth, beginning Thursday evening, March 19, 2026, and expected to last through March 24th. Scientists at the Laboratory of Solar Astronomy of the IKI and ISZF RAS predict the storm, triggered by a coronal mass ejection (CME) from a significant X4.2 solar flare on February 4th, will be the strongest in two months.
The cloud of plasma is anticipated to arrive at Earth by the evening of March 19th. Astronomers attribute the intensity of the storm to a combination of factors, including recent solar plasma emissions and the potential influence of coronal holes currently facing Earth. The current forecast suggests the storm will peak between the evening of March 19th and March 21st, according to reports.
The strength of this event is being compared to a similar storm experienced in January, which reached a G4 level – a relatively rare occurrence. Experts suggest the center of the plasma structure is expected to directly impact Earth. The Laboratory of Solar Astronomy has noted that the forecast has been repeatedly revised upwards in the past 24 hours, indicating a potential for increased intensity.
The approaching geomagnetic disturbance is expected to cause atmospheric pressure fluctuations in major Russian cities, including Moscow, and St. Petersburg, according to reports. A calendar of magnetic storms for March 2026 indicates a G1-level storm is predicted for March 19th, with moderate G2-level storms forecast for March 20th and 21st.
While the precise timing of the disturbances is hard to predict with such a complex event, scientists are preparing for a potentially significant geomagnetic event. The speed of the plasma cloud was measured at approximately 670 km/s, taking just over 60 hours to reach Earth from the sun.
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