This upcoming weekend, September 13-14, Earth is expected to experience a deterioration in geomagnetic conditions, with potential for magnetic storms of levels two and three on a five-point scale. Experts from the Laboratory of Solar Astronomy at the Space Research Institute (IKI) of the Russian Academy of Sciences reported this.
The change is attributed to an unusually large equatorial coronal hole that has appeared on the visible side of the Sun, situated in the plane of planetary rotation. On September 11, this hole shifted to the center of the solar disk, directing high-speed solar wind streams towards our planet. These streams are anticipated to reach Earth`s orbit in approximately three days.
It has been noted that geomagnetic activity this September has been unusually high; three powerful planetary-scale magnetic storms were recorded during the first ten days of the month (September 2, 6, and 10). In contrast, only one such storm was registered throughout all of August (on the night of August 9).
Scientists are currently uncertain whether these events signify a return of the Sun to peak activity levels, as the star itself is sending mixed signals; for instance, the level of flare activity has significantly decreased over the past few days.
A detailed forecast, including precise parameters for the expected magnetic storms and results from solar wind modeling, will be provided on Friday.
Rupert Blackwood 
Clement Ashworth