Coronal mass ejection from Wednesday's bright and long-duration X1.6 flare hit the Earth's magnetic field at 1555 UTC this morning (Western Hemisphere). The K index jumped from 2 to 6, indicating moderate storm conditions.
The most visible effect will be increased aurora, moving south perhaps to the northern U.S..
On the radio, polar absorption has greatly increased. Lower latitudes should encounter unstable and/or disturbed propagation today into tomorrow.
Interestingly, the Bz component of the magnetic field is oscillating wildly in some places, and at other locations it has moved well to the north. Generally, a southward Bz corresponds with the heaviest storm conditions.
