Massive solar storm to blame for global blackouts, more to come, experts say
- Lori Lee WGOLV
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 10 minutes ago
A massive solar storm recently struck the daylight side of the planet, leading to global blackouts and disrupting radio signals across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
What was the cause of this massive solar storm?
An intense X2.7-class solar flare that erupted from sunspot AR4087 early Tuesday morning (May 14), propelling charged particles and plasma toward Earth. Experts warn that this is just the beginning.
“This is getting intense, especially as this active region turns closer into view,” aurora chaser Vincent Ledvina wrote on a post on X (formerly Twitter).
X2.7 flare from AR 4087
Photo credit - Aurora chaser Vincent Ledvina
He also tweeted, “What does this [active region] have planned over the next days… we’ll have to wait and see.”
The storm erupted at 4:25 a.m. ET, classified as an R3-level event - potent enough to disrupt high-frequency radio signals and interfere with communication systems for several hours.
NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center confirmed the X2.7 flare, which is on the lower end of the most intense solar flares. Nonetheless, it was powerful enough to leave entire regions in a communication blackout.
Solar flares are ranked on a scale from A to X, according to Space.com, with X-class flares being the most powerful, and each rank up represents a tenfold increase in strength.
The higher the number, the stronger the flare. Tuesday’s X2.7 eruption was enough to light up solar observatories around the world.
And “Flares of this magnitude are not frequent,” according to a statement from the NOAA officials.
Only a few hours following the X2.7 flare, the same sunspot area produced another intense eruption — an M5.3-class flare, which, although smaller, remained significant.
By Wednesday morning (May 15), AR4087 was active once more, releasing an M7.74-class flare shortly before 7:20 a.m. ET.
And this is just the beginning, as more blasts are expected as it continues its ominous march toward direct alignment with Earth.
Potentially more radio disruptions and power grid issues in the days to come -
Ledvina warned that this could mean more radio disruptions and power grid issues in days to come.
These storms have real-world consequences, with space agencies and power companies now on high alert for more potential fallout.
The sun’s explosive outbursts can knock out satellites, mess with GPS systems, and even disrupt power grids.
Scientists say we could be in for a rough solar ride as AR4087 gets into position to hurl its next volley of plasma directly at Earth.
Last month, a rare “cannibal” solar eruption lit up skies from Scotland to the South Pole after two solar blasts merged mid-flight, slamming Earth’s atmosphere on April 15, as reported by the New York Post.
LoriLee
WGOLV
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