Solar Flare and CME May Trigger Northern Lights This Week
A powerful M5.7 solar flare erupted from the sun on May 10, 2026, accompanied by a coronal mass ejection (CME) that could graze Earth later this week. According to Space.com, the flare originated from sunspot region AR4436, which is now rotating into a position where future eruptions could more directly impact Earth. The CME is expected to potentially trigger minor (G1) geomagnetic storm conditions, enhancing aurora displays at high latitudes. The solar flare also caused a temporary radio blackout over the Atlantic Ocean due to ionization of Earth's upper atmosphere. This event follows a historic G5 geomagnetic storm on the same date in 2024, which produced auroras visible as far south as Florida and Mexico. 
