A planetary magnetic storm has been recorded on the planet since midnight Moscow time. The reason is a sharp increase in the speed of the solar wind in the vicinity of the Earth due to a coronal hole on the Sun. The index has been holding at G1.7 for nine hours, which makes the event unusually stable, the Solar Astronomy Laboratory of the IKI RAS noted.
The speed of the solar wind reached 700 km/s with a norm of 300–400 km/s, that is, it has doubled, and has not yet decreased. Geomagnetic disturbances, according to forecasts, may last up to three days, although short-term interruptions are possible.
Storms of this level can affect energy systems and the propagation of radio waves at high latitudes. In the middle and southern parts of the country, the impact is weak.
This is the second magnetic storm in March, but the first significant one. The previous one, on March 4, was weak and short. In total, 17 days with magnetic storms have already been recorded in 2026 (23% from the beginning of the year). For comparison: last year, recognized as the most geomagnetically active in a decade, gave 19% of such days. So far, this year is on a record schedule.