Planetary K-index Now: Kp= 0 quiet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Get Ready!!!!!!!!!!!!The Calm Before the Storm

WAITING FOR THE NEXT FLARE: Solar activity has been low for 24+ hours, but the forecast calls for flares. Two large, complex sunspots are transiting the Earthside of the sun with mixed-polarity magnetic fields that harbor energy for strong eruptions. The next big flare will probably come from one of these two circled regions:

[link to spaceweather.com]


It's an intriguing phenomenon that people have recognized for centuries, but what on Earth causes this calm? And why do whip-like winds, dropping temperatures and rumbling thunder sometimes precede storms instead of a peculiar and eerie calm?

The Calm Before the Storm

So is there a calm before the storm? You may have already guessed the answer. Sometimes there is; sometimes there isn't. Under the right conditions, an eerie or peaceful calm will befall your picnic before a storm moves in. Other storms skip the calm and proudly announce their presence by instantly unleashing bad weather. Let's take a look at what goes on inside a storm to understand more about how this works.
[link to science.howstuffworks.com]