Ukrainians warned of strong magnetic storm - the most difficult day is already known
Kyiv • UNN
On April 18, the peak of geomagnetic activity of a strong storm level is expected. Experts advise monitoring water balance, sleep patterns, and avoiding overwork.
This weekend, the geomagnetic situation on Earth will worsen. The highest solar activity is predicted for Saturday, April 18, when the Kp-index will reach 5.7-6.0 in the night and morning hours, corresponding to a strong magnetic storm, UNN reports with reference to SolarMeteo data.
Details
On Friday, April 17, the geomagnetic field will remain relatively calm. In the morning, the Kp-index will be 2.7, dropping to 2.0 at noon, and to 1.3 in the afternoon. In the evening, the indicator will rise again to 2.7, and at 9:00 PM, it will reach 4.3, indicating the beginning of increased geomagnetic disturbances.
Magnetic storm on April 18-19: what meteorologists say
The most difficult day, according to the forecast, will be Saturday, April 18. Already at 00:00, the Kp-index will rise to 5.7, and at 03:00 and 06:00, it will be 6.0. At 09:00, the indicator will drop to 5.0, after which geomagnetic activity will gradually weaken throughout the day: to 4.0 at 12:00, 3.7 at 15:00, 3.3 at 18:00, and 3.0 at 21:00.
On Sunday, April 19, the magnetic storm will still be felt, but it will be weaker. At night, the Kp-index will be 4.3, rising to 5.0 at 03:00, and to 4.7 at 06:00. A gradual decrease is then expected: 4.0 at 09:00, 3.3 at 12:00, 3.7 at 15:00, 3.0 at 18:00, and 3.0 at 21:00.
Should we expect a magnetic storm at the beginning of the new week?
On Monday, April 20, geomagnetic activity, according to preliminary data, will continue to weaken. At 00:00 and 03:00, a Kp-index of 3.3 is predicted, which corresponds to a moderate level of disturbances.
What to do during a magnetic storm: doctors' recommendations
During magnetic storms, some people may experience a worsening of well-being: headaches, fatigue, irritability, sleep disturbances, and blood pressure fluctuations. There is no special medical protocol specifically for such periods, but doctors advise adhering to basic rules that help reduce unpleasant symptoms.
Doctors recommend, first and foremost, monitoring water balance.
Adequate fluid intake can help with headaches and support the normal functioning of the body, including the cardiovascular system.
Doctors also advise not to skip meals and to adhere to a regular daily routine. According to their recommendations, it is desirable to eat regularly, at approximately the same time, as long breaks between meals can exacerbate headaches or provoke migraines.
Special attention is advised to be paid to sleep. Lack of sleep or a sharp change in routine can worsen well-being, so on days of increased geomagnetic activity, it is advisable to avoid overwork and provide the body with sufficient rest.
During such periods, doctors also advise reducing physical and emotional stress.
For people prone to migraines, specialists recommend tracking individual triggers. For this, one can keep a well-being diary, recording the time of symptom onset, sleep patterns, nutrition, and other factors that could have affected the condition.
Another piece of advice concerns caffeine. Doctors note that in some cases, a small amount of caffeine can relieve headaches, but its excess can, on the contrary, worsen well-being. Therefore, on days when the body reacts particularly sensitively to changes, it is worth avoiding excessive consumption of coffee and other caffeinated beverages.
If a headache has already appeared, doctors advise using usual pain relievers if they suit the person and have no contraindications. In the case of migraines, doctors recommend not delaying and taking prescribed medications at the first symptoms.
At the same time, specialists emphasize that one should not attribute any worsening of the condition solely to a magnetic storm. If it is a severe or unusual headache, vomiting, visual disturbances, severe weakness, chest pain, shortness of breath, a sharp increase in blood pressure, or other alarming symptoms, it is necessary to seek medical help.