Severe space weather event on 18 January 2026

Activity on the surface of the Sun generates space weather that spreads outwards, across the Solar System. On 18 January 2026, an eruption reached Earth quite fast, and the high energy particles released by the Sun caused some of the most intense radiation storms on record. We expect at least another day of the geomagnetic storm levels remaining high – so more auroras might be possible in low latitudes.

The impact of the resulting geomagnetic storm is estimated to be severe and might affect satellites, power grids, and navigation systems. The event does not pose a direct biological risk to people on Earth.

The European Space Agency (ESA) is collecting detailed information about the event's effects on Earth. The numbers in this infographic are based on the information available at the time noted in the bottom left corner.