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NASA warns major solar storm set to cause blackouts on Earth
[Daily Mail, where America gets its news] A massive solar storm is heading toward Earth, threatening to disrupt communications, navigation systems, and power grids around the world.NASA issued the warning after a powerful burst of energy from the sun last week, which measured as an X2.7-class solar flare, the highest category for solar flares. Solar flares are intense bursts of radiation that come from sunspots — darker, cooler areas on the sun's surface — and are among the most powerful explosions in the solar system. These flares can last from a few minutes to several hours. This X2.7 flare, released on May 14, came from the sun's most active region, which is now rotating directly toward Earth. The flare has already caused radio blackouts across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, along with some power degradation in the eastern US. NASA warned that more is to come, saying the bursts could continue to impact 'radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts'. Space expert Vincent Ledvina posted on X: 'This is getting intense, especially as this active region turns closer into view.' While NASA warned more blackouts and communication interference are expected in a matter of days, the agency also noted that several US states will witness stunning northern lights. Those include Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Maine, as well as parts of nearby states, including New York. the agency also noted that the storm will bring stunning northern lights across 11 US states. Solar flares are grouped into five categories: A, B, C, M, and X, with each level representing a tenfold increase in energy output. A is the weakest, and X is the strongest. The UK's Met Office reported that up to five sunspot regions are currently visible on the side of the sun facing Earth, with a new magnetically active region rotating into view over the southeastern solar horizon. The agency also noted that a region near the sun's northwest limb may have produced a moderate-class flare earlier on May 19. 'Solar activity is expected to remain mostly low, but with an ongoing chance of isolated moderate-class flares,' the Met Office added. This uptick in solar activity highlights the importance of monitoring space weather, especially as our society becomes more reliant on technology. As the sun continues through its active phase, more solar flares and potential geomagnetic storms could occur in the coming days and weeks. Related: Solar storm 05/15/2025 A powerful M-class flare occurred on the Sun Solar storm 06/01/2024 Magnetic storms begin on Earth after a strong ejection on the Sun Solar storm 05/24/2024 A protracted magnetic storm K-index 4 has begun on Earth Posted by: Skidmark 2025-05-21 |
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