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Earth Enters Fast Solar-Wind Stream as Moderate Geomagnetic Storm Begins

Forecasters expect a mild event followed by normalization by midday October 20.

Overview

  • Instruments detected rising solar-wind speed and density as Earth moved into a high‑speed stream from a large, equatorward coronal hole.
  • The Laboratory of Solar Astronomy at IKI RAN reported the onset of the third geomagnetic disturbance of October.
  • Specialists assess the influence as moderate to weak, with a strong geomagnetic response considered unlikely and a weak storm the most probable outcome.
  • Several M‑class flares were recorded overnight, but researchers say they pose no risk to Earth's magnetosphere and are not driving current conditions.
  • Scientists expect the coronal‑hole stream to dominate space weather for about 48 hours, with stabilization by midday October 20 and roughly a week of quiet to follow.