{"id":253475,"date":"2026-05-14T15:22:19","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T12:22:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pogodnik.com\/?p=253475"},"modified":"2026-05-14T15:22:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T12:22:19","slug":"magnetic-storm-g2-may-2026-coronal-hole-strikes-earth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pogodnik.com\/en\/news\/magnetic-storm-g2-may-2026-coronal-hole-strikes-earth","title":{"rendered":"Magnetic storm G2 May 2026 – Coronal Hole Strikes Earth"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Magnetic Storm May 15\u201317, 2026: Giant Coronal Hole Strikes Earth \u2014 Aurora Viewing Guide and Tips for the Weather-Sensitive<\/h1>\n

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Starting Friday, May 15, Earth enters a powerful, high-speed solar wind stream originating from a giant coronal hole<\/strong> in the center of the solar disk. According to NOAA and the UK<\/a> Met Office, geomagnetic activity will escalate to G2 (Moderate)<\/strong>, with potential spikes reaching G3 (Strong)<\/strong>. The aurora borealis is expected to be visible far beyond the Arctic Circle.<\/p>\n

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NOAA SWPC Warning:<\/strong> G1\u2013G2 geomagnetic activity is expected on May 15\u201317, 2026. Brief G3 intervals cannot be ruled out. Source: a recurrent coronal hole with negative polarity.<\/div>\n

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What Happened on the Sun: Two Sources of the Strike<\/h2>\n

This storm is the result of two overlapping events. First, a large recurrent coronal hole with negative polarity<\/strong> has moved into a central, geoeffective position on the Sun’s disk. Coronal holes\u2014regions of the corona with open magnetic field lines\u2014accelerate solar wind to speeds of 650\u2013800 km\/s, twice the normal rate. Second, active region AR4436<\/strong> produced an M5.8 flare on May 10; the resulting CME delivered a “glancing blow” on May 13\u201314, pre-disturbing the magnetosphere.<\/p>\n

This is a recurrent<\/strong> coronal hole\u2014it triggered storms during the Sun’s previous rotation. According to NOAA’s 27-day outlook: “Geomagnetic activity will reach G1 on May 15\u201317 due to the influence of a negative polarity recurrent coronal hole; high fluxes of >2 MeV electrons are also expected on May 15\u201320.”<\/div>\n

Hourly K-Index Forecast (UTC)<\/h2>\n

*Times are shown in UTC. For US Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), subtract 4 hours. For Central European Summer Time (CEST), add 2 hours.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Time (UTC)<\/th>\nMay 15 \u2014 Friday<\/th>\nMay 16 \u2014 Saturday<\/th>\nMay 17 \u2014 Sunday<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
00:00<\/td>\nK=3\u20134<\/td>\nK=6 \u2014 G2<\/td>\nK=5 \u2014 G1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
03:00<\/td>\nK=3\u20134<\/td>\nK=6\u20137 \u2014 G2\/G3<\/td>\nK=5 \u2014 G1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
06:00<\/td>\nK=4\u20135<\/td>\nK=7 \u2014 G3 \u26a1<\/td>\nK=4\u20135<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
09:00<\/td>\nK=5 \u2014 G1<\/td>\nK=6 \u2014 G2<\/td>\nK=4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12:00<\/td>\nK=5 \u2014 G1<\/td>\nK=5\u20136 \u2014 G1\/G2<\/td>\nK=3\u20134<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
18:00<\/td>\nK=6 \u2014 G2<\/td>\nK=5 \u2014 G1<\/td>\nK=3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
21:00<\/td>\nK=6 \u2014 G2<\/td>\nK=5 \u2014 G1<\/td>\nK=2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

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Aurora Borealis May 15\u201316: Where to Look<\/h2>\n

During a G2 storm, the auroral oval drops to 55\u201358\u00b0 geomagnetic latitude. With G3 spikes, it can drop to 50\u00b0 and lower. Space.com<\/strong> confirms: visibility is expected across the northern US states, Canada, and Northern Europe. The UK Met Office<\/strong> has also issued a dedicated geomagnetic forecast<\/a>.<\/p>\n