The Earth is prone to more geomagnetic storms during the spring and fall equinoxes than throughout the solstices.

When most folks think of Autumn, browning leaves, crisp wind and pumpkins come to mind – for scientists, though, it’s solar storms. And one is likely to blitz the Earth today, according to meteorologists. A solar storm, also called a geomagnetic storm, sees material spewed from the sun bombard the planet’s magnetic field.

During the solstices, when Earth's poles are pointed towards, the Sun, our planet experiences the least geomagnetic storms. In contrast, data collected between 1932 and 2014 shows geomagnetic storms are twice as likely around the times of the equinoxes, according to Space.com.

Vibrant auroras could be visible as far south as Oregon and Pennsylvania tonight as Earth reels from a "strong" G3-class geomagnetic storm. However, the nearly full Harvest Moon may complicate viewing opportunities.

A coronal mass ejection — when plasma and magnetic particles burst forth from the sun’s surface — occurred on Sunday, the same day as the official start of fall, Space.com reported. It reportedly occurred when a sunspot called AR3835 unexpectedly spouted an M-class solar flare — something scientists hadn’t predicted,