X-Ray image from a GOES satellite at 14:12 UTC on January 23, 2012. Credit: NOAA

Earth’s magnetic field is already full of activity from an Earth-directed Coronal Mass Ejection (CME). But all indications are another blast is headed our way from the strongest solar radiation storm since September, 2005. NOAA says the storm in currently is in progress and continues to get stronger, with a very fast CME headed towards Earth. “Geomagnetic storming is a near certainty from this event,” reported NOAA. “The associated solar flare peaked at the R2 (Moderate) level on January 23 at 0400 GMT (11pm Jan 22 EST).”

A computer model just released by NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center forecasts the storm will arrive late in the day (UTC) on January 24.