Scientists have warned of the first magnetic storm of 2026

The first noticeable magnetic storm of 2026 is expected on the night of January 2-3. This was announced on January 1 at the Laboratory of Solar Astronomy of the IKI RAS.

"The first noticeable magnetic storm of 2026 may occur as early as the night of January 2 to 3. A fairly strong New Year's Eve outbreak of the M7.1 level occurred yesterday between 16:12 and 17:11 Moscow time," the laboratory's Telegram channel says.

The predicted storm level will be G2, which corresponds to the average strength of geomagnetic activity. However, there is a possibility that the storm may reach the G3 level and higher — about 30%.

It is worth noting that geomagnetic activity on New Year's Eve was low, despite the impact of such external adverse factors as the continued influence of one of the coronal holes on the Sun.

Quadrantids 2026: when and how to see the most powerful January starfall

The peak of the Quadrantides on the night of January 3 can bring up to hundreds of meteors per hour.

On December 30, the Laboratory of Solar Astronomy at the IKI RAS reported the occurrence of weak magnetic storms and auroras in Russia on New Year's Eve. It was noted that at such a time, the impact from a small coronal hole coincides with the arrival to Earth of the edge of a plasma cloud ejected after two Class M solar flares.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.