Strong Solar Flare Triggers Geomagnetic Storms, Auroras Expected in Southern Skies

On Sunday, June 1, Earth was struck by a powerful geomagnetic storm with speeds exceeding 1000 km/sec.

Space Weather Live reported that sunspot region 4100 unleashed a spectacular, long-lasting M8.2-class solar flare, peaking at 05:35 IST (00:05 UTC). This flare, originating near the center of the Earth-facing solar disk, is especially noteworthy.

The eruption produced a Type II radio emission, signaling the launch of a coronal mass ejection (CME). Current coronagraph images indicate the CME likely has an Earth-directed trajectory.

Visible in SOHO/LASCO imagery, this major, asymmetrical full halo CME accompanied the flare, originating from the central part of the solar disk facing Earth.

With its Earth-directed component almost certain, the CME is expected to cause space weather effects such as auroras, radio signal disruptions, and potential power grid fluctuations in higher latitude regions.

On June 1, 2025, a minor G1-class geomagnetic storm was recorded as the Kp index hit Level 5 — the threshold for a G1 storm — at 09:24 UTC (14:54 IST), according to Space Weather Live.