On the morning of August 18, a planetary-scale magnetic storm unexpectedly began on Earth. The first signs were recorded by global magnetic observatories between 7:00 and 8:00 Moscow time, and by approximately 9:00, the disturbance reached G1 level – the minimum on a five-point scale.

A slight deterioration in the geomagnetic situation was expected the day before, but forecasts did not promise a full-fledged storm. Solar wind parameters remained relatively low, so the sharp increase in activity came as a surprise.

This is already the third magnetic storm since the beginning of August – the previous ones occurred on the 2nd and 8th. So far, all events remain moderate and do not exceed G2 level, despite generally low solar activity.

The current storm should be short: by noon, Earth's field may return to a weakly disturbed state. Full stabilization, however, could take another 2–3 days. The planet is under the influence of a large coronal hole, so repeated surges are possible in the coming days.