CME SPARKS GEOMAGNETIC STORM: A CME hit Earth's magnetic field on Aug. 17th (0316 UT). First contact had little effect, but hours later while Earth was passing through the CME's wake, a G2-class geomagnetic storm broke out. It's over now, but more storms could be in the offing. A series of CMEs is expected to graze Earth's magnetic field on Aug. 18-19, potentially sparking a strong G3-class geomagnetic storm.

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