G1 – Minor Geomagnetic Storm Alert issued on April 3, 2026

A G1 – Minor Geomagnetic Storm Alert was issued on April 3, 2026, by the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center. The alert indicates that a geomagnetic K-index of 5 has been reached, with the threshold crossed at 15:35 UTC. The affected synoptic period runs from 15:00 to 18:00 UTC on April 3, 2026. This alert signals minor geomagnetic storm conditions are currently ongoing.

According to the official alert, the primary area of impact is expected poleward of 60 degrees geomagnetic latitude. Potential impacts include weak power grid fluctuations due to induced currents, minor impact on satellite operations, and the possible visibility of auroras at high latitudes, including regions such as northern Michigan and Maine.

The storm activity has been attributed to ongoing negative polarity coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS) influences. Solar wind speeds increased to approximately 725 km/s, and the magnetic field exhibited periods of enhanced strength. Forecasts indicate that these enhanced solar wind conditions will persist through April 5, 2026, with additional enhancement possible from the anticipated glancing arrival of a coronal mass ejection (CME) that departed the Sun on April 1.