Geomagnetic Storm Warning

[MVAR]

@OVERKILL must be sleeping

NOAA has issued a G4(second highest) geomagnetic storm warning that can start as early as 5/10/24 & run through 5/12/24.

The most susceptible areas of the BES (bulk electric system) are northern areas with large amounts of igneous rock. This tends to be Canada(especially eastern Canada) as well as parts of the PNW & Northeastern US. The igneous rock prevents the induced currents from migrating to ground & they move into the transmission system.

We have had several of these storms at this rating but chances of issues do increase. I’ve received no operating instructions from my reliability coordinator for my area but I’m also pretty far removed from the heavily impacted areas.

Here’s the announcement:

https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/swpc-issues-its-first-g4-watch-2005

Have to get back to work but I’ll drop in on occasion if there’s any questions.

 

[bobdoo]

Two years ago, I got *fantastic* video of aurora. Digital camera, ISO set to 12,800, 24 fps, wide-open shutter. Hand-held, no tripod needed. You will see colors and movement you can't see with your eyes.

 

[researcher]

Two years ago, I got *fantastic* video of aurora. Digital camera, ISO set to 12,800, 24 fps, wide-open shutter. Hand-held, no tripod needed. You will see colors and movement you can't see with your eyes.

Is it possible to upload that video to something like mediafire, in case you didn't want it on youtube? That would be awesome to see!!

 

[Lubener]

The grid will sure be tested. Let's hope it's another Y2K scare.

 

[MVAR]

The grid will sure be tested. Let's hope it's another Y2K scare.

Northeastern Canada has experienced widespread outages due to geomagnetic activity in the past.

 

[k1xv]

As an amateur radio operator who engages in intercontinental radio communications, the propagation is nuts, with radio blackouts on some bands and super strong signals on others.

 

[Astro14]

I actually subscribe to the space weather warnings on my company iPad/email. The space weather can affect communications in the North Atlantic, where I often fly.

 

[MVAR]

I actually subscribe to the space weather warnings on my company iPad/email. The space weather can affect communications in the North Atlantic, where I often fly.

The impacts to power systems are, generally, transformer core saturation and protective relay misoperation. The frequencies the relays receive from the GIC’s can have a relay open a breaker without a fault or thermal condition being present.

 

[Snagglefoot]

I’ve got the tinfoil hat ready.

 

[daves87rs]

Hopefully nothing too crazy…..

 

[OVERKILL]

Well, this will be interesting, waiting to see if anything happens

 

[alarmguy]

Very cool! Been waiting most my life for one of these events to actually affect something along the east coast (in the USA). Just booked a fishing trip for my wife Sunday, told her I hope the ships GPS keeps working
I just think for our area the biggest threat will be the storms to move through later today (Friday) but good to know if the internet goes wacky this weekend.

 

[henni]

There are now six(6) solar storms on the way

 

[researcher]

There are now six(6) solar storms on the way

wow.. reminds me of the old Chinese saying.. goes something like "May you live in interesting times".. indeed!

 

[SC Maintenance]

I would be good if my work cell phone quit for a few days. Also good without power for a few also. Practice for hurricane season?

 

[stormgol]

its mass is about 330,000 times that of Earth, making up about 99.86% of the total mass of the Solar System. it does not take a rocket scientist to understand the enormous influence the sun has over everything in the solar system, especially earth. the sun has the first word and last word on everything around here. we are lucky to live in an era were the sun is stable on the main sequence. our lives all depends on that stability.

 

[ripcord]

"Everyone Else"

 

[k1xv]

The impacts to power systems are, generally, transformer core saturation and protective relay misoperation. The frequencies the relays receive from the GIC’s can have a relay open a breaker without a fault or thermal condition being present.

I started my career as an Electrical Engineer specializing in power transmission and distribution in an oil refinery. Most trip outs of circuits I experienced were not due to actual faults, but due to malfunctioning protective relays. The more you wanted to protect a circuit from damage to a fault, the less reliable it became due to false trips. So, the best engineering practice, where it was critical that the power "stay on", you had the fewest and often least sophisticated protective relays, to avoid instances of false trip outs.

 

[johnpawl]

...In other words, if it ain't broke, don't break it.

 

[henni]

Just the 1st wave --- had massive outages in services already