{"id":800203,"date":"2026-01-20T07:20:30","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T12:20:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/?p=800203"},"modified":"2026-01-20T07:20:30","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T12:20:30","slug":"cme-impact-causes-g4-severe-geomagnetic-storm-amazing-aurora-across-usa-and-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/?p=800203","title":{"rendered":"CME impact causes G4 &#8211; Severe geomagnetic storm, amazing aurora across USA and Europe"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<p><strong>The impact of a full halo coronal mass ejection (CME) at Earth on January 19, 2026, drove geomagnetic activity to G4 \u2013 Severe levels, producing widespread aurora across Europe, Asia, and the United States.<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"perfmatters-lazy-youtube\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/rA8N5k9sPA0\" data-id=\"rA8N5k9sPA0\" data-query=\"feature=oembed\" onclick=\"perfmattersLazyLoadYouTube(this);\">\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Northern lights in Brittany\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/rA8N5k9sPA0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/noscript>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Geomagnetic storming reached G4 \u2013 Severe levels late on January 19 and again early on January 20, 2026, following the arrival of a CME associated with the January 18 X1.9 solar flare.<\/p>\n<p>The CME impact was detected at 19:20 UTC on January 19. Geomagnetic storming evolved rapidly, reaching G2 \u2013 Moderate by 19:24 UTC and G3 \u2013 Strong by 19:30, before intensifying further to G4 \u2013 Severe at 19:43 UTC.<\/p>\n<p>A solar wind signature of a second hit, associated with the CME flux rope arrival on Earth, was observed around 21:00 UTC, with total interplanetary magnetic field reaching 91 nT at 21:15 UTC.<\/p>\n<p>Associated with this second hit, the solar wind speeds measured by the operational satellite reached 1 131 km\/s at 21:25 UTC.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img data-perfmatters-preload=\"\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"799\" src=\"https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/rtsw-january-19-and-20-2026-1024x799.webp\" alt=\"rtsw january 19 and 20 2026\" class=\"wp-image-241585\" srcset=\"https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/rtsw-january-19-and-20-2026-1024x799.webp 1024w, https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/rtsw-january-19-and-20-2026-300x234.webp 300w, https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/rtsw-january-19-and-20-2026-768x600.webp 768w, https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/rtsw-january-19-and-20-2026.webp 1158w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image credit: SWPC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Severe storming persisted into the 21:00\u201324:00 UTC synoptic period, after which geomagnetic activity temporarily eased. During the 00:00\u201303:00 UTC period on January 20, conditions fluctuated between G1 \u2013 Minor and G2 \u2013 Moderate, before strengthening again to G2 \u2013 Moderate during 03:00\u201306:00 UTC.<\/p>\n<p>A renewed intensification followed, with geomagnetic activity returning to G4 \u2013 Severe levels during the 06:00\u201309:00 UTC synoptic period. By the 09:00\u201312:00 UTC period, activity briefly eased to G3 \u2013 Strong before intensifying again to severe levels.<\/p>\n<p>At G4 \u2013 Severe geomagnetic storm intensity, impacts are primarily expected poleward of 45 degrees geomagnetic latitude. Potential effects include widespread voltage control problems in power systems, with some protective systems potentially tripping to safeguard key assets, and intensified geomagnetically induced currents in pipelines.<\/p>\n<p>Under G4 conditions, satellite systems may experience surface charging, increased drag on low Earth orbit spacecraft, and tracking and orientation problems. Satellite navigation systems, including GPS, may be degraded or inoperable for hours, while high-frequency radio propagation can become sporadic or blacked out at high latitudes.<\/p>\n<p>Auroral activity can expand well into mid-latitudes under these conditions, with visibility possible as far south as Alabama and northern California during peak storming.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"267\" alt=\"estimated-planetary-k-in january 20 2026\" class=\"wp-image-241582 perfmatters-lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/estimated-planetary-k-in-january-20-2026-1024x267.webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/estimated-planetary-k-in-january-20-2026-1024x267.webp 1024w, https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/estimated-planetary-k-in-january-20-2026-300x78.webp 300w, https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/estimated-planetary-k-in-january-20-2026-768x200.webp 768w, https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/estimated-planetary-k-in-january-20-2026-1536x400.webp 1536w, https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/estimated-planetary-k-in-january-20-2026-2048x533.webp 2048w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"267\" src=\"https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/estimated-planetary-k-in-january-20-2026-1024x267.webp\" alt=\"estimated-planetary-k-in january 20 2026\" class=\"wp-image-241582\" srcset=\"https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/estimated-planetary-k-in-january-20-2026-1024x267.webp 1024w, https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/estimated-planetary-k-in-january-20-2026-300x78.webp 300w, https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/estimated-planetary-k-in-january-20-2026-768x200.webp 768w, https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/estimated-planetary-k-in-january-20-2026-1536x400.webp 1536w, https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/estimated-planetary-k-in-january-20-2026-2048x533.webp 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image credit: SWPC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cYesterday\u2019s CME impact was perfectly timed for Europe,\u201d Dr. Tony Phillips of SpaceWeather.com noted. \u201cThe severe geomagnetic storm began just after nightfall in the EU, while the New Moon provided dark skies for long-exposure photography.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>An \u2018unbelievable\u2019 show was observed in France and Germany, but vivid aurora were also seen in Romania, Belgium, Poland, Switzerland, Latvia, Croatia, Norway, Ireland, Denmark, England, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Iceland, and the North Sea.<\/p>\n<p><center><iframe width=\"500\" height=\"787\" style=\"border:none;overflow:hidden\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share\" class=\"perfmatters-lazy\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FAlexandreCroisierPhotographies%2Fposts%2Fpfbid09kL41dudh9hHTq2jUCh8wVvur8dUT9VbMntGPyyKKwgZBagQknhiXnyBB4MxTgfFl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500\"><\/iframe><noscript><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FAlexandreCroisierPhotographies%2Fposts%2Fpfbid09kL41dudh9hHTq2jUCh8wVvur8dUT9VbMntGPyyKKwgZBagQknhiXnyBB4MxTgfFl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500\" width=\"500\" height=\"787\" style=\"border:none;overflow:hidden\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share\"><\/iframe><\/noscript><\/center><\/p>\n<p>Amazing aurora visuals were observed as far south as China before moving to the United States and descending as far south as Alabama, Georgia, New Mexico, and California.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\ud83d\udea8: Extreme Northern Lights recorded tonight 20 January 2026, over Tombstone Mountain Park, Canada \ud83c\udf41<\/p>\n<p>These photographs are completely unreal \u2014 tonight&#8217;s aurora show is brightest and strongest in more than 20 years. \ud83c\udf0c\u2728<\/p>\n<p>Tonight is your chance to witness the best auroras of our\u2026 <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/N43bne8qVK\">pic.twitter.com\/N43bne8qVK<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 All day Astronomy (@forallcurious) <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/forallcurious\/status\/2013526269552664699?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 20, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"\/>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"\/>\n<p>The geomagnetic storm coincided with a major solar radiation storm that peaked at S4 \u2013 Severe on January 19, the strongest since 2003. The cause was the same \u2013 an X1.9 solar flare on January 18.<\/p>\n<p>The most intense radiation phase ended late on January 19, and the latest GOES proton flux data show levels substantially lower, remaining around the S1 \u2013 Minor threshold range by late morning on January 20, indicating reduced but still elevated particle conditions.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" alt=\"goes-proton-flux-5-minut january 20 2026\" class=\"wp-image-241583 perfmatters-lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/goes-proton-flux-5-minut-january-20-2026-1024x576.webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/goes-proton-flux-5-minut-january-20-2026-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/goes-proton-flux-5-minut-january-20-2026-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/goes-proton-flux-5-minut-january-20-2026-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/goes-proton-flux-5-minut-january-20-2026-180x100.webp 180w, https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/goes-proton-flux-5-minut-january-20-2026.webp 1200w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/goes-proton-flux-5-minut-january-20-2026-1024x576.webp\" alt=\"goes-proton-flux-5-minut january 20 2026\" class=\"wp-image-241583\" srcset=\"https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/goes-proton-flux-5-minut-january-20-2026-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/goes-proton-flux-5-minut-january-20-2026-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/goes-proton-flux-5-minut-january-20-2026-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/goes-proton-flux-5-minut-january-20-2026-180x100.webp 180w, https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/goes-proton-flux-5-minut-january-20-2026.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image credit: SWPC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Further fluctuations in geomagnetic activity remain possible as CME-related structures continue to pass Earth. The storms\u2019 continued intensity depends on solar wind conditions and the orientation and persistence of southward magnetic field components.<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-theme-palette-6-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-07e908f39a2a0e875e6195f5e6da4302\"><em>Featured image: Northern lights in Brittany, France, seen through the lens of Alexandre Croisier on January 19, 2026. Credit: Alexandre Croisier via SpaceWeather<\/em><\/p>\n<p><!-- MOLONGUI AUTHORSHIP PLUGIN 5.1.0 --><br \/>\n<!-- https:\/\/www.molongui.com\/wordpress-plugin-post-authors --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/watchers.news\/2026\/01\/20\/cme-impact-causes-g4-severe-geomagnetic-storm-amazing-aurora-across-usa-and-europe\/?rand=772108\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The impact of a full halo coronal mass ejection (CME) at Earth on January 19, 2026, drove geomagnetic activity to G4 \u2013 Severe levels, producing widespread aurora across Europe, Asia,&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":800204,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-800203","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-space-weather-reports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/800203","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=800203"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/800203\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/800204"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=800203"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=800203"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=800203"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}