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Powerful solar activity released by the sun is racing toward Earth, with scientists warning it could trigger spectacular auroral displays in unexpected regions while also disrupting satellite communications and GPS systems from Monday evening into early Tuesday.
The National Weather Service’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) says a solar radiation storm rated S4 severe on a five-point scale is currently underway, marking the strongest such event in more than two decades.
“An S4 severe solar radiation storm is now in progress; this is the largest solar radiation storm in over 20 years,” SWPC announced on X. “The last time S4 levels were observed was in October 2003.”
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According to the agency, the most significant impacts are expected to affect space launch operations, aviation, astronauts, and satellites, rather than the general public.
The last storm of similar intensity, the infamous Halloween storms of October 2003, caused power outages in Sweden and damaged power transformers in South Africa, SWPC noted.
Solar radiation storms occur when high-energy charged particles from the sun reach Earth, increasing radiation exposure risks for astronauts aboard the International Space Station and for passengers on aircraft flying near polar routes. In response, SWPC has alerted NASA, airlines, the Federal Aviation Administration, FEMA, and power grid operators to take precautionary measures.
“We’ve been making all these phone calls to ensure that we are keeping all the critical technological infrastructure operators in the know,” said SWPC forecaster Shawn Dahl.
In addition to radiation risks, heightened solar activity can interfere with satellites used for navigation, communications, and precision farming. During a geomagnetic storm in May 2024, GPS-dependent equipment experienced disruptions, though widespread failures were avoided.
A severe geomagnetic storm also struck Earth Monday afternoon, driven by a coronal mass ejection (CME), a massive eruption of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun triggered by an X-class solar flare, the most intense category. Scientists say this is the first major solar flare of the year.
While geomagnetic storms can threaten power grids, experts say widespread outages are not expected this time.
On the brighter side, the storm could produce vivid auroras well beyond their usual polar regions. The northern lights may be visible across much of the northern United States and as far south as Alabama and northern California, depending on cloud cover.
“Aurora will likely be strongest as soon as it’s dark enough,” said Ryan French, a solar physicist at the University of Colorado Boulder, noting that auroras often occur in short but intense bursts called substorms.
Experts also warn that more solar flares are possible in the coming days, as an active sunspot region continues to face Earth, raising the likelihood of additional space weather impacts.
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