The strongest magnetic storm in three months covered the Earth: what awaits the inhabitants of Sochi

Today, October 12, the Earth recorded the most powerful magnetic storm in the last three months — its intensity reached the level of G3 on a five-point scale. According to the Laboratory of Solar Astronomy, the geomagnetic storm began to register at about 20:00 Moscow time. The last time a magnetic storm of comparable strength was observed on July 4, 2026.

The cause of the natural phenomenon was plasma clouds ejected into space as a result of a strong surge in solar activity recorded at the beginning of the week. When interacting with the Earth’s magnetosphere, these streams of charged particles provoked sharp fluctuations in the planet’s magnetic field.

One of the most spectacular effects of the storm was the intense auroras: they are observed at geographical latitudes from 50 degrees and above. Although Sochi is located south of these latitudes and it is almost impossible to see the aurora here, the event is important for the resort - due to perturbations of the geomagnetic field, failures in satellite navigation and high-frequency radio communication can occur.

According to scientists, the unstable state of the geomagnetic field can persist for about a day. Residents and guests of Sochi, especially those who are sensitive to changes in space weather, doctors recommend during this period to reduce physical activity, avoid stress and monitor blood pressure.

Despite the space phenomenon, the climatic conditions in Sochi remain comfortable: warm weather and water temperature in the Black Sea at +22 ° C allow you to continue active recreation on the coast. However, tourists planning long sea trips or excursions using GPS navigation should take into account possible technical errors of the equipment in conditions of geomagnetic disturbances.