This alert comes as two coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are expected to make their way to Earth this weekend. A geomagnetic storm occurs when solar wind — a stream of charged particles from the Sun — collides with Earth’s magnetic field.

Earth is bracing for blackouts after the sun unleashed a massive X-class solar flare — the most powerful it can generate — Tuesday evening.

Most recently, the northern lights put on a dazzling show in the Texas Panhandle, coinciding with the peak of the Perseid meteor shower. At the time, Earth was hit by a G2 geomagnetic storm. It's important to note that space weather is highly unpredictable, so don't be too disappointed if this weekend turns out to be a total flop.