Horne, R. B. and Angling, M. J. and Attrill, G. D. R. and Beggan, C. and Bisi, M. M. and Cannon, P. S. and Clarke, E. and Dyer, C. and Eastwood, J. P. and Elvidge, S. and Gibbs, D. and Gibbs, M. and Green, L. M. and Hapgood, M. A. and Hofton, M. and Jackson, D. R. and Jones, B. and Machin, S. and Mitchell, C. N. and Morgan, H. and Owens, M. and Preston, J. and Rees, J. and Routledge, G. and Ryden, K. A. and Sangha, H. K. and Tanner, R. J. and Wild, J. A. and Willis, M. J. (2026) The May 2024 geomagnetic storm : UK experience and perspective. Royal Society Open Science, 13 (4): 251943. ISSN 2054-5703
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
The May 2024 geomagnetic storm was the largest for over 20 years. The storm was categorized as a ‘low-level’ G5, where G5 is the highest on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scale for geomagnetic storms, yet the individual solar eruptive events were not particularly severe, and the observed impacts were relatively minor. The impacts that were observed were due to the combined and sustained effect of five successive earthward-directed coronal mass ejections (CMEs) which drove the storm. The event exposed the weakness of the current storm classification system which does not discriminate between low impact and high impact G5 events; it exercised the UK Met Office forecasting system, communications and UK preparedness; and it highlighted key areas that need to be addressed, particularly relating to national power supplies, space traffic management, aviation, forecasting and data gaps. Here, we set out what happened, record some of the key impacts, discuss what went well and what needs to be improved. We make 14 recommendations relevant to four government departments, so that the UK can be better prepared for a low-probability, high-impact space weather event described in the reasonable worst-case scenario that informs the national risk register.