magnetic storm

noun

: a marked temporary disturbance of the earth's magnetic field held to be related to sunspots

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The magnetic storm is expected to continue through Saturday and perhaps even strengthen. —

Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 1 Apr. 2022 The reader is an innocent bystander swept up by a magnetic storm of affinity. —

Wsj Books Staff, WSJ, 8 Dec. 2021 At the time of the event, Japan rested at a magnetic latitude of 33 degrees, where aurorae could hypothetically form—especially in the event of a magnetic storm. —

Jennifer Leman, Popular Mechanics, 3 Apr. 2020 For their latest work, Love’s team obtained records of magnetic storms detected at observatories, then combined them with new surveys that measured the local magnetic field and its related electrical field. —

National Geographic, 18 Mar. 2019 The predicted magnetic storm could push the aurora borealis to lower latitudes, raising the possibility its eerie streamers would slither over the skies in New York, Wisconsin, or Washington State. —

Andrew Moseman, Popular Mechanics, 25 Mar. 2019 The magnetic storm effect is global, however, whereas the rocket effect is regional. —

Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 22 Mar. 2018 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'magnetic storm.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1855, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of magnetic storm was circa 1855

See more words from the same year

Dictionary Entries Near magnetic storm

magnetic sound

magnetic storm

magnetic survey

See More Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

Style

“Magnetic storm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magnetic%20storm. Accessed 24 Mar. 2023.

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