CME STRIKE SPARKS G2 GEOMAGNETIC STORMS

G2 (Moderate) geomagnetic storm conditions were observed at 14:54 UTC (10:54 A.M. Eastern) due to continued activity from a coronal mass ejection that arrived earlier in the UTC day.

http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/

Solar Wind Speed: 567 km/sec

Solar Wind Magnetic Fields: Bt 19 nT, Bz -11 nT

Geomagnetic storms are underway on July 16th following a CME strike at 0545 UT. Auroras have been sighted in New Zealand as well as US states such as Washington and Wyoming. The storms are intensifying as Earth moves into the CME's magnetized wake. They are currently category G2 (moderately strong).

http://www.spaceweather.com/