by Paul Gilster | Jan 24, 2026 | Uncategorized | 11 comments
The approaching storm will almost certainly cause power outages that will make it impossible to post here. If this occurs, you can be sure that I’ll get any incoming messages posted as soon as I can get back online. Please continue to post comments as usual and let’s cross our fingers that the storm is less dangerous than it appears.
In Centauri Dreams, Paul Gilster looks at peer-reviewed research on deep space exploration, with an eye toward interstellar possibilities. For many years this site coordinated its efforts with the Tau Zero Foundation. It now serves as an independent forum for deep space news and ideas. In the logo above, the leftmost star is Alpha Centauri, a triple system closer than any other star, and a primary target for early interstellar probes. To its right is Beta Centauri (not a part of the Alpha Centauri system), with Beta, Gamma, Delta and Epsilon Crucis, stars in the Southern Cross, visible at the far right (image courtesy of Marco Lorenzi).
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Good luck, and stay safe!
Stay safe Paul, and everyone else reading.
I also found these winter safety tips that might be useful…
https://www.ready.gov/winter-weather
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4OJTfFVOpVI
Best wishes and hopes for your preparations. At this point, there’s not much time for any additional preparations except possibly strawberry Pop-Tarts.
Ad vitare cladem praeparet cladis – To avoid disaster, prepare for disaster.
Hi Paul
And fellow readers from the US, keep warm and safe. (At 12:30am last night we had a heavy very loud rain storm here that work me up!)
Winter Grips the Michigan Mitten
https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-observatory/winter-grips-the-michigan-mitten/
Winter Storm
https://earthsky.org/earth/major-winter-storm-us-january-2026/
Cold over the US
https://www.windy.com/-Temperature-temp?temp,44.151,-91.758,5,p:cities
Cheers Edwin
Since we’ve had a major solar storm recently, there may be a direct connection to what’s happening with this snowstorm. Many years ago, I read about how particles from the Sun can increase snowfall. Since this is the most significant storm in over 30 years, it’s probably the first real experience we have had with all the modern technology.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_solar_storms
January 2026 solar storm triggered by an X1.9 solar flare that produced an unusually fast CME. An S4 (i.e., severe) solar radiation storm occurred, the strongest since October 1989. Auroras seen as far south as Spain and Arizona. Somewhat similar to the August 1972 storm.
https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/en/solar-activity/top-solar-radiation-storms.html
https://spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=19&month=01&year=2026
https://www.livescience.com/space/the-sun/earth-hit-by-biggest-solar-radiation-storm-in-23-years-triggering-northern-lights-as-far-as-southern-california
Hi Paul,
I saw : it’s a hell of an American-sized storm ! In France, as soon as there are three flakes, the country stops and they “clear the snow from the dust” as the Canadians say :) My God, I don’t dare to imagine if we had that here… :D
I hope everything is fine; stay warm by the fire with a good grog (10% water and 90% rum) and a good astro book :)
Thanks, my friend! Would much rather be in your lovely country right now than in this icy landscape, but good news — no power loss (yet).
Meanwhile here in Australia, today is merely a cool summer day (and Sunday was hot!). Regardless, stay safe, Paul.
Ah to be Down Under!
One more set of helpful tips, because winter isn’t over yet – and there will be future winters.
23 lessons you will learn living in a very snowy place
https://eukaryotewritesblog.com/2026/01/21/very-snowy-place/
Hope you and family are safe. We British whinge about our weather but it pales in comparison to other regions of the world !