Solar wind approaching Earth: magnetic storm expected

The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center has warned of likely G1-level magnetic storms—the minimum on the five-point scale. Increased geomagnetic activity is expected on October 31 and November 1.

The cause will be a high-speed stream of solar wind from a coronal hole. This is an area of the solar atmosphere from which charged particles more easily escape into interplanetary space. When such a stream interacts with Earth's magnetic field, geomagnetic disturbances may occur.

In NOAA's forecast for October 31, the maximum Kp index value reaches 5, corresponding to a weak magnetic storm. This level is expected between 05:00 and 08:00 Tashkent time.