Graphic presented during a SWPC / NOAA press briefing regarding the threat of severe space weather.
The Space Weather Prediction Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, also known as SWPC, held a press conference on Wednesday October 9th to alert the media about a Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch. This storm was ignited by a Coronal Mass ejection that erupted from our sun on the evening of October 8th, 2024.
Video coronagraph footage from the SWPC shows the Coronal Mass Ejection alongside a coincidental photobomb from the Tsuchinshan-ATLAS Comet
This fast-moving solar flash sent radiation particles hurdling towards earth, with the potential to envelop earth’s magnetic field causing a G4 Class or severe Geomagnetic Storm. This particular storm was analyzed and anticipated to reach earth on October 10th. Indeed the CME arrived Thursday at 11:15 AM Eastern Time, causing SWPC to upgrade its Storm Watch to a Storm Warning.
Signage outside the Trillium Birth Center at Mad River Community Hospital in Arcata, California, taken in November of 2019.
Photo and Editorial by Amanda Dockter
In 2019, I experienced a miracle of sorts. After more than a decade of coping with irregular menstrual cycles and infertility caused by Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), I learned that I was pregnant. At the age of 33, I found myself navigating a major life milestone that I didn’t think I would ever get to experience. When I saw the faint lines indicating a positive on my home pregnancy test, I was hesitant to believe it could be true. A visit to Open Door’s wellness center confirmed the pregnancy, so I went ahead and scheduled my first trimester appointments for prenatal care at the Sutter Clinic — the only obstetrics practice in Del Norte County.
I was nervous about receiving prenatal care through Sutter. I had heard numerous horror stories from friends and relatives who had experienced labor and delivery at Crescent City’s Sutter Coast Hospital. Locals living in a rural county know that finding quality medical care is a huge challenge. Sutter was the only game in town, so we decided to give them a chance.
