Severe Watch Issued For First Time In Nearly 20 Years

Geomagnetic Storm Watch: Solar Flare Activity Could Impact Earth

Severe Watch Issued for First Time in Nearly 20 Years

Published May 10, 2024 | Updated May 11, 2024 12:06 AM

A powerful solar flare has erupted from the sun, triggering a severe geomagnetic storm watch for the first time in nearly 20 years. The flare, which was classified as an X-class flare, the strongest type of solar flare, occurred on May 10, 2024. The flare released a massive burst of energy, including a wave of solar radiation that traveled at near the speed of light and reached Earth the following day.

The solar radiation has the potential to cause numerous effects on Earth, including disrupting electrical grids, affecting satellite communications, and causing aurora borealis to be visible at lower latitudes than usual. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a severe geomagnetic storm watch for May 11-12, warning that the storm could have a significant impact on critical infrastructure.

Solar flares are caused by the sudden release of energy in the sun's atmosphere. They are often associated with sunspots, which are dark areas on the sun that indicate regions of intense magnetic activity. The flare that occurred on May 10 was associated with a sunspot group that has been particularly active in recent weeks.

The geomagnetic storm watch is a warning that the Earth's magnetic field is expected to be disturbed by the incoming solar radiation. This can cause problems for electrical systems, as the induced currents in power lines can cause transformers to overheat and fail. The storm can also disrupt satellite communications, as the charged particles in the solar radiation can interfere with radio signals.

The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, is a natural light display that occurs when charged particles from the solar wind interact with the Earth's magnetic field. The incoming solar radiation from the recent flare is likely to produce aurora borealis that will be visible at lower latitudes than usual.

NOAA is urging everyone to take precautions to prepare for the potential impacts of the geomagnetic storm. These precautions include having backup power available in case of power outages, and being aware of potential disruptions to satellite communications.