Coronal mass ejection toward Earth, October 11, 2026

A coronal mass ejection, a billion-ton cloud of magnetized gas, left the Sun on October 11, 2026 at 23:12 UTC, moving at about 618 km/s (1.4 million mph). NASA’s model forecast it to reach Earth around Wednesday, October 14 at 09:04 UTC, plus or minus several hours. In the model’s strongest scenario it pushes the K index to 7, a G3 geomagnetic storm.
What happens when it arrives
If the cloud’s magnetic field points south when it hits, it can couple with Earth’s and set off a geomagnetic storm: auroras far from the poles, and in strong storms trouble for power grids, satellites and GPS. Arrival times are model forecasts and are often off by six hours or more. Live outlook: aurora forecast.
Did you know?
The solar cycle. The Sun's activity rises and falls on a roughly 11-year cycle. More sunspots mean more solar storms.
Data: NASA DONKI (WSA-ENLIL model).
More: every space weather and near-Earth page · all events
More from around the world
- M4.9 earthquake near Kokopo, Papua New GuineaOct 14, 2026
- Hurricane SimonOct 14, 2026
- M4.7 earthquake near La Mesa, PanamaOct 14, 2026
- M4.9 earthquake near La Tirana, ChileOct 14, 2026
- M4.8 earthquake in the North Atlantic OceanOct 14, 2026
- M4.7 earthquake near Kokopo, Papua New GuineaOct 14, 2026
- M4.6 earthquake near Kokopo, Papua New GuineaOct 14, 2026
- M5.0 earthquake near Coquimbo, ChileOct 14, 2026