Strong CME impact – G2 Geomagnetic Storm [1]

TheWatchers.com-3/17/13, Nix

Long duration M 1.2 solar flare erupted on March 15, 2013 [2] and launched a Full-Halo Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) toward Earth. It hit Earth’s magnetic field at 06:01 UTC on March 17, 2013 and Geomagnetic K-index of 6 reached threshold on March 17, 2013 at 08:42 UTC – G2 Geomagnetic Storm. The impact was strong, lifting the solar wind speed from 300 km/s to greater than 600 km/s. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras.

Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 55 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude.
Induced Currents - Power grid fluctuations can occur. High-latitude power systems may experience voltage alarms.
Spacecraft - Satellite orientation irregularities may occur; increased drag on low Earth-orbit satellites is possible.
Radio - HF (high frequency) radio propagation can fade at higher latitudes.
Aurora - Aurora may be seen as low as New York to Wisconsin to Washington state

For more information on this story and a video see TheWatchers.com. [3]